High-flying Atletico seeking Real scalp

The combative Argentine, who helped Atletico to the league and King's Cup double as a player in 1996, has transformed the Spanish capital's second club since taking over from Gregorio Manzano in December 2011.

The Europa League champions are three points behind leaders Barcelona after 13 matches and, unbelievably for many of their long-suffering supporters, eight ahead of stuttering Real, who slipped to a third defeat of the campaign at Real Betis last weekend that left their title defence in serious peril.

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