The Ten Year Jinx

Tonight sees the second most important fixture in Spanish football; the Madrid derby. For the fanatical following of Atletico Madrid, though, it's by far the most important. But for ten long, agonising years, they have not sampled the sweet taste of victory against their most bitter of rivals. Amazingly, a total of 85 players have come and gone through the gates of the Vicente Calderon without experiencing the glory of a derby win against their city neighbours; one of them 'El Niño' Torres. Sergio Agüero was 11 years old when it last happened; a 1-3 reversal in the Bernabeu in 1999. Ironically, the year they were relegated.

Since then it's has been a wave of white supremacy lead by their sacred number seven, Raúl Gonzalez Blanco. It could have been so different had the Atletico president Jesus Gil not thrown Raúl out of the club in 1992 when he eradicated the Cadete system which Raúl had been a part of since 1990. Two years later 'El Ferrari' signed for Real Madrid, and set upon a one man mission to heap misery upon his former employers. He scored his first goal for Real in the derby, his second match, and set up two more in a 4-2 win. 10 further goals in 25 derbys would definitely constitute revenge in my books.

Much of the build-up to the match has been built around whether Raúl will start, and if Atletico's 'saviour' Sergio Agüero can break the ten year jinx. Yesterday Real manager Pelligrini, hinted that Raúl would be given a start, only to name him among the subs today. Only time will tell if this decision comes back to haunt the Chilean, but Raúl's derby experience, as well as scoring record against Atletico, is a priceless asset. The manager has bowed to pressure from some sections of the Bernabeu to drop Raúl; Benzema had better prove them right.

Agüero knows what it's like to score against Real, but it was in vain; another deflating 2-1 defeat in the Bernabeu last year. So will today be a case of commeth the hour, commeth 'El Kun'? More important will be the opening minutes and Atleticos defence. Real have made a habit of putting the game to bed within the first 5 minutes of the derby, as much as Atletico's defence has made a habit of capitulating. What Atletico need to do is start a habit of winning derbys......and then staying up.

Watch Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid live HERE