Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: 4 things to watch on Matchday 13

How Real Madrid address Marcos Llorente at his best

To many Real Madrid fans, Marcos Llorente is the “one who got away”. The midfielder has flourished for Los Rojiblancos in 2020-2021. He was good last season, but he has legitimately been great this year. You can even make the case that he’s been the best midfielder in La Liga after Real Sociedad’s star man Mikel Merino.

Llorente is an important player for Diego Simeone and probably their second-best attacking player right now after the wonderful Joao Felix. The 25-year-old has scored four goals this season with two assists. Llorente can, of course, play through the middle, but he’s also been very dangerous when deployed as a right-sided midfielder by Simeone.

After leaving Real Madrid for their crosstown rivals, Llorente would love nothing more than to be a goal-scorer at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in a win that would put at least nine points between Atleti and Real in this title race. Because it really does feel like it will come down to these two teams and maybe Real Sociedad; Barcelona look like a lost cause in 2020-2021.

Llorente can do real damage on the counter, and we’ll have to see how Zidane decides to address the threat Llorente is carrying right now with his goals. The secondary production he is providing to the forwards is a real X-Factor in Atleti’s La Liga brilliance this season.