The war of words between the coaches and players of Madrid’s two rival clubs has reached a fever pitch.
This season, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are neck and neck in the La Liga title race, adding extra heat to their rivalry. Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone recently stirred the pot by implying that their city rivals always enjoy certain “privileges” on the field.
The latest controversy stems from Real Madrid’s thrilling 5-2 win over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey Round of 16, a match that saw a controversial penalty call—or lack thereof—spark debate. When asked about it, Simeone claimed that referee decisions have favored Real Madrid for “over 100 years.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti didn’t take the comment lightly, responding this weekend by suggesting that “some thorns still sting Simeone.” Real midfielder Dani Ceballos also took a jab, saying, “Maybe they still haven’t forgotten the pain of losing the finals in 2013 (actually 2014) and 2016.”
The mention of those two Champions League finals indeed stirs old wounds. In the 2013-14 final, Atlético was on the brink of glory, leading 1-0 in regulation time before conceding a heartbreaking equalizer in injury time. Real Madrid then ran riot in extra time, winning 4-1 to claim the trophy under Ancelotti. Two seasons later, Atlético suffered another devastating loss to Real, this time in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Since then, Real Madrid has lifted the Champions League trophy five more times, while Atlético’s dream of European glory remains unfulfilled.
With Ancelotti and Ceballos’s remarks hitting a sore spot, Simeone fired back with a sharp response, recalling an episode from Ancelotti’s past to make his point. He urged his rivals to revisit their time at Bayern Munich and remember their own criticism of Real Madrid.
“I don’t usually respond to comments from my colleagues,” Simeone said. “I’m just reminiscing. It’s natural for them to support the team they’re currently with—they’re doing well, and they have an extraordinary squad. But when they were at another club, their opinions were very different.”
Simeone specifically referenced Ancelotti’s tenure as Bayern Munich coach during the 2016-17 season. In the Champions League quarterfinals, Bayern faced Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, where a contentious 4-2 extra-time loss left Ancelotti fuming. The Italian coach called the result “unjust” and “not normal.”
“Looking back at that match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid,” Simeone added, “it’s clear the coach’s (Ancelotti’s) comments reflected what happened on the pitch.”
Interestingly, in this season’s revamped Champions League, Atlético Madrid currently sits in a better position than their rivals. With four wins from six matches, Atlético has 12 points and ranks 11th, while record-holders Real Madrid, with three wins and 9 points, are down at 20th.
The top eight teams in the table will qualify directly for the Round of 16, while teams placed 9th to 24th will fight for the remaining spots in a playoff round.
Atlético faces Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, while Real Madrid will take on Salzburg on Wednesday, adding another chapter to this fierce rivalry.
