Spain braced for Madrid derby

First trip
It will be the 69th time the teams have met on Atlético's home patch. Their neighbours to the north of the Manzanares river have the edge statistically, winning 26 of their visits while 19 have ended level. Madrid also emerged victorious from their first-ever trip south, triumphing 3-0 when Atlético were based at the now-demolished Metropolitano stadium on 29 May 1929.

Torres form
For Atlético talisman Torres, the game comes at the end of a productive week. The 21-year-old scored five goals in Spain's 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and San Marino while his team-mate and Group 7 rival, Mateja Kežman, was on target twice in Serbia and Montenegro's outings.

'Different game'
"Hopefully we can continue this good run," Torres said. "We face five games in a fortnight so the goals have come at a perfect time. I missed a few chances the last time we played Madrid but I don't feel any special motivation to make amends - this is a different game and hopefully luck will be on our side."

Zidane start
Home coach Carlos Bianchi has just one absentee, Argentinian winger Luciano Galletti with a groin strain. For their part, Madrid welcome back Zinedine Zidane, who is expected to start his first game in more than six weeks and is likely to consign Guti to the bench alongside Robinho. Elsewhere, Pablo García should retain his place in front of the back four at Thomas Gravesen's expense. Should Vanderlei Luxemburgo's formula pay dividends, he will become the first Madrid coach to taste victory in his first two away derbies since 1980s predecessor Luis Molowny.

High voltage clash
"Atlético are a different team when they are at home," the Brazilian said. "The pressure on us will be greater but at Madrid we are used to playing under duress at hostile grounds. The fans will play a part but they won't be the ones who are on the pitch - we must be prepared and keep our concentration, because to win we will have to play our best football."

Salgado relish
One person with ample experience of these encounters is Madrid right-back Míchel Salgado, who is relishing facing the old foe. "It's going to be a great game as it always is," he said, "not just for the players but also for the fans. I just hope we can extend our good run against them - over the last few years we have been able to win this fixture and we will be trying not to tarnish that record on Saturday."