A clash of ambitions at the Calderón

Matchday 13 of the Liga BBVA offers a historic fixture between two legendary clubs in the championship. Atlético Madrid and RC Deportivo will lock horns in a clash in which the two clubs will have different objectives. 

While the Rojiblancos will want to keep in touch with what is happening at the top of the table between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, Deportivo urgently need a win after two goalless draws in the Liga BBVA. 

Notable absentees

Both teams go into this important fixture with some notable absentees. For Atlético, João Miranda, through injury, and Gabi, through suspension, are the major absences, while the Galicians travel to the Vicente Calderón without Lucas Pérez, Luis Fariña and Alberto Lopo, the latter due to an accumulation of yellow cards. 

Views from the dressing room

The intensity and focus with which Diego Pablo Simeone's men approach matches are not just reflected on the field of play. Defender Cristian Ansaldi described the match as "a final" and said that we have to make the most of Atlético’s home’s games, because it's where the team is really strong".

The Deportivo boss, Víctor Fernández, excited to be visiting the "champions' ground", said in the lead-up to the game: "We have to play as a team. It’s vital against this kind of opposition. We can't limited ourselves to just defending because if we do that we’ll lose".