sport news Atletico Madrid have one more chance for success as they visit Real Madrid trends now
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Diego Simeone said: ‘we are both playing for the same thing’ when asked who had more at stake in Thursday's Copa del Rey quarter-final with Real Madrid.
He will know that his answer was not entirely true – Carlo Ancelotti’s team have three other shots at silverware between now and the end of the season, for Atletico this is it, if they go out they will finish the season empty-handed.
In a game overshadowed by more horrific abuse aimed at Vinicius, condemned on all sides as repugnant and deplorable, the Madrid neighbours will vie for a place in the semi-finals in a derby that will go along way to defining this season for the away side.
Sparks are set to fly as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid face off in the Copa del Rey last eight
Atletico boss Diego Simeone looks on during training ahead of the Madrid derby on Thursday
Simeone has already seen his team exit Europe and slip out of the title race, this is the only route to glory this season.
It will be a long night if things go to form – since Simeone has been at the club, Atletico have met Real Madrid five times in one-legged cup competition, and the game has always gone to extra time.
The focus falls on four strikers ahead of kick-off: France team-mates who will be on opposing sides: as it sometimes seemed they were in Qatar; Vinicius; and new signing Memphis Depay who could make an appearance from the bench.
Vinicius was the target of sick fan abuse in a previous meeting and in the build up to this game
Atletico fans have hung a Vinicius effigy from one of bridges within the city (above)
The game pits Antoine Griezmann against Karim Benzema. The two began the World Cup together in Qatar but Benzema was sent home with an injury and Griezmann, who won the World Cup in Russia while Benzema was still out of favour with the international team, was one of those team-mates who close observers of the French team felt was not overly upset by his absence.
