It's the Madrid Derby, and it's time to put one thing to bed.

When we, all in the broadcast industry or journalists, try to oversell a game and say,

this will be crucial for the title race, let me remind you of two things.

One, once this match is over, one lose a draw for either side, there will still be 45 points in play.

Quite a lot. Arithmetic, it won't make all difference to the eventual title winners,

which of the sides win this, arithmetically at least.

To throw something else in there, in the last three times that Atletti have been Spain's champions,

finishing in 96, 2014 and 2021. In league terms, that's six Madrid derbies, two each season. Ateti have won, one, and six.

One, three defeats and two draws.

In the instances when Aletti went on to win the title,

and in the case of 1996, they won the double

under Radian Peach, marvelous man,

it was very good to me. Always let to have an interview, always answered my calls.

Late lamented, Radiantech, they won the double.

And in the last Madrid Derby, in that double winning season,

when they pipped Madrid, the title, they lost at home 2-1, Angelo Simeone, the midfielder,

a ferocious Argentinian playmaker, was red carded centre on Michael Leibropp scored.

Go and listen to the big interview with Michael Ladrop.

He was brilliant.

So, Aletti can actually afford to lose this match in Los Blanco's HQ in the Bernabelle and history says and arithmetic says, no big deal. You can still win the title. But is that a reality? This is a gaping opportunity.

The reason I say that is that of all the defenders that are missing,

and Robin Le Normandy is a big loss for Atlitti at the back,

...