MADRID • Thibaut Courtois left Chelsea on bad terms last summer and he expects to feel the same anger from Atletico Madrid fans when he lines up for Real Madrid in LaLiga today.
Courtois developed into one of the world's top goalkeepers after three years on loan at Atletico, but this will be his first appearance at the Wanda Metropolitano in the colours of their bitter rivals.
The Belgium goalkeeper will also be involved in another subplot, as his former Chelsea teammate Alvaro Morata is expected to make his home debut against the club where he came up through the academy and spent five seasons at.
The Spain striker may be charged with leading Atletico's line in what could prove a pivotal cross-town derby this weekend.
Real arrive on the back of four LaLiga wins on the bounce and will leapfrog their opponents with a win, while a victory for Atletico could jump-start their faltering title challenge, having fallen six points adrift of leaders Barcelona.
For Courtois, a reunion with Diego Simeone's men is not new - he faced them twice for Chelsea in the Champions League last season and again at the Santiago Bernabeu in September - but the 26-year-old is expecting a far more hostile reception this time round.
He said: "It happens in football, it's a derby and a derby here in Madrid is always heated.
"They'll whistle and shout, everything you would expect, it's part of football. I will always respect them. Now I'm playing for the other side."
However, Courtois, who won multiple honours with Atletico including the 2013-14 LaLiga title, offered an olive branch to Atletico fans, who earlier in the term vandalised his stadium plaque.
He added: "It is still a special match. I respect the fans and the club a lot, in the end, they gave me the opportunity to play when I was just 19 years old."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
ATLETICO V REAL MADRID
StarHub Ch213, 11.10pm
Football: Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight في February 15, 2019 sport, BERLIN (REUTERS) - Premier League's Watford were made to sweat to beat humble Championship club Queens Park Rangers 1-0 on Friday (Feb 15) and book their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second time in four seasons.
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight
Pedro scored a vital away goal for Chelsea in their Europa League semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. There was a raucous atmosphere ahead of kick-off and the home fans were
Chelsea draw 1-1 at Eintracht in Europa League semi first leg
Soccer Football - Premier League - Huddersfield Town v Southampton - John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, Britain - December 22, 2018 Southampton's Nathan Redmond in action with Huddersfield Town's Te
Southampton power past struggling Huddersfield Town - Reuters
Raheem Sterling of England scores his hat-trick goal against the Czech Republic (Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images) England were brilliant and no-one more so than Raheem Sterling. Gareth Southgate's men start their Euro 2020 campaign in style!
Arsenal star Olivier Giroud angry with constant criticism from France fans and says it is getting 'tedious' The Gunners forward has come under fire from France fans once again but Giroud is
France's Giroud looking to silence "mudslingers" with goals
Jurgen Klopp labels Liverpool's Barcelona defeat as 'best away Champions League performance' Klopp also praises "unstoppable" Lionel Messi while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk call Messi "the
Why Klopp is to blame for Painful UCL finals defeat - Thewistle
Neymar denies raping woman in Paris luxury hotel, dad calls it extortion PARIS • Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar yesterday denied raping a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her at a Paris hotel, with his father claiming he was the victim of blackmail.
Neymar denies claims he raped a woman in Paris hotel saying
Salah retains African award to seal great day for Egypt. Mohamed Salah completed a memorable day for Egyptian football by retaining his African Player of the Year award in Senegal Tuesday.
Mohamed Salah Retains African Award To Seal Great Day For Egypt
Football: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives stars 'licence to express', says Dwight Yorke The key to the Red Devils' surge in form has been the caretaker's perceptive man-management skills, said former
Ole gives stars 'licence to express', says Yorke, Football
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed his players as 'giants' after amazing win We played against maybe the best team in world. Winning is difficult but winning with a clean sheet, I don't
'These Boys Are Giants': Klopp Salutes Liverpool Heroes - The
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich - Paulaner am Nockherberg, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Franck Ribery during the club's party a
Bayern have not yet tabled bid for Man City's Sane
Football: Atletico the greatest threat to Barca's La Liga
BARCELONA (AFP) - Lionel Messi collected a record fifth Golden Shoe award on Tuesday (Dec 18) for finishing last season as the top goalscorer in Europe.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Lionel Messi claims record 5th Golden Shoe | Football News
0 comments:
Post a Comment