Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez has said his side must give 100% for the whole 90 minutes if they are to get anything from the match against city rivals Atletico de Madrid.
The two side go head-to-head in La Liga for the first time this season, and the match with be the first time the teams have played against each other at the Santiago Bernabeu since Atletico won the Copa del Rey final 2-1 back in May. Los Rojiblancos have made a perfect start to this campaign and sit top of the table alongside Barcelona, with Los Blancos two points behind.
Speaking to the official website, Lopez said his team mates must give their all in attack and in defence if they are to win the match, and hailed their opponents as being a ‘great side’.
He said: “The derby is a game of maximum rivalry and we are really looking forward to it. You can really feel the passion and the fighting spirit in these matches. It’s a game where we have to battle, give it one hundred per cent and come away with the three points. In Real Madrid it’s all about winning, we can’t slip up in any game and especially when we’re playing at home.”
Talking about Diego Simeone’s men, Lopez stated: “We’re up against a great side and if they play their best cards they are very dangerous. The greatest danger is that they are a very closely knit group, they’re all in it together and they know exactly what they’re doing.”
