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Ronaldo Fit to Face Atletico, as the Real Hope to Win Madrid Derby

Real Madrid have been boosted with the news that Cristiano Ronaldo has been declared “100% ready” for this weekend’s derby against Atletico.

The two sides continue a rivalry that has become one of the best and most intense in Europe when they meet in an early La Liga clash at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Madrid manager, Ancelotti revealed that Ronaldo, who missed Portugal’s shock defeat by Albania and Real’s loss to Sociedad on Sunday with an unspecified injury is in good form.

“My confidence lies on two pillars,” said Ancelotti ahead of the visit of champions Atletico.

“I have a group of professionals that are very concentrated and Cristiano scores a goal a game.”

He added: “Cristiano is on top form. He is in optimal condition. He doesn’t have a chronic injury.”

Rivalry between the two Madrid teams has become one of the most competitive, a far cry from the all-too recent calamitous spell in Atlético’s history when they went 13 years without beating their illustrious neighbors.

Atlético’s extraordinary rise under Diego Simeone has played a part in the derby not only taking on far more meaning than just local pride but also becoming far more frequent. When the two sides meet on Saturday, it will be the seventh time they have faced off this year.

While Real Madrid may have to adapt following their summer transfer business, so too will Atlético Madrid.

Unlike their rivals, the changes undergone by Atlético were largely enforced, no thanks to the loss of Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Thibaut Courtois to Chelsea, while the likes of David Villa and Diego have also departed.

It would be easy to predict that such losses would result in the end of Atlético punching above their weight against their far richer rivals in Spain — Real Madrid and Barcelona — but they have invested strongly and have perhaps emerged with a stronger squad in terms of depth.