Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media at the press conference ahead of the Madrid derby against Atlético Madrid on matchday 8 of LaLigawhich will be played at the Cívitas Metropolitano (Sunday, 9 p.m. CEST): “I expect a tough, tough game against a great team. It’s always been that way and it won’t change tomorrow. It’s always a very tough, competitive, hard-fought and entertaining game. “The last few games have also been very entertaining and with a lot of goals because both teams have players of great quality and it will be a spectacle.”

Bookings
“We talked about it. There have been too many protest cards in recent games and the only way to prevent this is to prevent unnecessary protests.”

Camavinga
“He is available, he has trained well and recovered. He is in good condition. And if a player is available, he can play 90 minutes or zero minutes.”

Will Madrid resemble last year’s team?
“Bellingham’s position depends a lot on the strategy we want to play. Of course, a little changes without Mbappé, but not much, because last year we played without him. It’s a shame he won’t be there for this game, but we can cope with his absence.”

Does he understand Atlético’s displeasure at less rest?
“Yes, I understand that because it has happened to us so many times, mostly against Atlético. So I get it.”

The shape of the team
“The team has improved, especially considering the last game. I also think about the mistakes of the last 10 minutes, but it was a game by a more solid, more compact and more effective team. We scored a lot more goals, all of good quality. We are on the right track. Tomorrow is a very important test in this regard. The team has to be compact in this game.”

How does he see Atlético compared to last year and is it a special game?
“The game against Atlético is always special because it is a derby. All derbies in all countries are special. I think Atletico have improved a lot compared to last year. They have signed some very good players and strengthened their squad. They will fight for this league with us and with Barcelona until the end.”

Lineup without Mbappé
“I don’t look too much at the system because a 4-3-3 can change. You can play a 4-4-2 with the same players. Adding another midfielder doesn’t mean we play a 4-4-2 or another striker is a 4-3-3. Maybe you play a 4-4-2 with three strikers and use Vini Jr. or Rodrygo as a right winger. I don’t pay much attention to it, but what I look for in tomorrow’s game is that the team shows solidarity and commitment.”

Visit to the Cívitas Metropolitano
“It’s a tough game. Of course, but every game has its own story. It is very difficult to predict what will happen tomorrow. We have a plan and we want to implement it and we’ll see if it goes well.”

Vini Jr. and the Ballon d’Or
“He deserves to get what he did last season. Especially in the Champions Leaguewhere he helped us win with his goals in the semi-finals and the final.”

What does the team need to turn things around against Atlético?
“The Metropolitano is a tough stadium. We have to improve and that’s all.”

Learned from last year’s game
“Yes, 100%. We must avoid the mistakes of last year. It’s pretty obvious. The defeat woke us up, we improved defensively and can put this lesson to good use for tomorrow’s game.”

What does he think about fans being allowed to wear masks to hide who is being insulted?
“Of course we don’t talk about it or express our opinion about it. Just about the game and the good preparation for it. In general, the judiciary makes decisions and measures, especially in the last week. It’s a problem we don’t have to worry about. We’re not worried about it, other organizations are worried about it and it’s only fair that it should be. Tomorrow it will be a spectacle and fun because both teams have top players and they will use all their skills to make it a great spectacle.”

What makes this Madrid derby different from other derbies around the world?
“They are all special, it depends on the culture of the country. Here it is a derby that is very similar to the one in Rome because the fans have great passion for their team and show it in the game. The Milan derby is much quieter because the people in the north are colder than the people in the south.”