The Madrid derby rivalry will renewed for the new season when Real Madrid host Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.
Where to Watch Live
The match is set to start at 11 pm local time (2.30 am IST) with live coverage on Ten Sports. The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Catch the action in the UK on Sky Sports 5, with the option to live stream HERE or HERE. Viewers in the US can watch the game on ESPN, while the action can also be live streamed HERE. Middle East and North Africa viewers can watch the match via live streaming HERE.
Real Madrid missed out on the La Liga title last season, with Atletico taking that particular honour, but they did win the biggest title in the club game in Europe – the Champions League – courtesy a dramatic extra time victory over their crosstown rivals, along with the Copa Del Rey.
The Champions League final, when with just seconds to go looked like going Atletico's way will still be hurting them to a certain extent, and they will be gunning for some revenge.
"The team is eager to start," Atletico midfielder Gabi said. "The Super Cup is a major title because none of us has it. Even though it's obvious that we're in August, the team is in very good conditions to face this game.
"It's an opportunity to keep growing as a team, to keep winning titles which, in the end, is the most important thing for the club and for the players. Another opportunity to win a title."
While Real Madrid have strengthened considerably during this summer, bringing in World Cup heroes Keylor Navas, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos, Atletico have lost a few key players, including Diego Costa and Filipe Luis, who signed for Chelsea.
However, Diego Simeone has brought in a few interesting faces, with Costa's replacement Mario Mandzukic especially catching the eye. Simeone, though, admitted they will be up against a stronger Real Madrid side.
"Real Madrid improved, the presence of Kroos gives them even greater potential in the midfield, more stability, balance and game," he said. "What we've seen of [Gareth] Bale is much better than in the beginning, which makes him more dangerous when attacking. They have a better team than last year."
For Real Madrid this match will be about winning another piece of silverware before the season has even really started. They have already dispatched one Spanish side in Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup and Carlo Ancelotti's men will be hungry for more.
"Atletico have changed a little because they have signed some big players," Ancelotti noted. "Their style has not changed and it will be a difficult match, as it was last season.
"We've signed three players who are going to bring more quality to the team and so we have a better squad than last season, but in order to enjoy that quality we have to work hard. This week the competition starts and the team is ready."
