Picking a Combined Real Madrid-Atletico Madrid XI
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet at the Bernabeu on Saturday in their first clash of the 2014-15 La Liga campaign.
Diego Simeone's men, of course, defeated the European Champions across two legs in the Spanish Super Cup just three weeks ago, exuding their characteristic strength despite an array of personnel changes.
Real Madrid, however, have endured a turbulent opening to their season, following the loss to Atleti with a scrappy win over Cordoba and a 4-2 collapse against Real Sociedad.
Interestingly, both teams could do with some of the qualities found in the other: Real would be greatly aided by their neighbours' robust defence, while Los Rojiblancos still crave some of the attacking firepower found at the Bernabeu.
So what if you pooled the pair's resources to produce a combined XI? What would it look like?
Across the following slides, we've selected a lineup comprising players from both teams, placing them in a 4-3-3 shape.
GK: Keylor Navas
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Keylor Navas is yet to make his competitive debut for Real Madrid, but it's hard to shake the feeling that the Costa Rican is still the finest goalkeeper residing in the Spanish capital.
After an outstanding domestic season with Levante, the 27-year-old sparkled in front of goal at this summer's World Cup, propelling his nation to a remarkable run to the quarter-finals in Brazil.
Thanks to his supreme shot-stopping skills, Navas was brought to the Bernabeu for €10 million, leading many to believe he'd quickly surpass Iker Casillas in Carlo Ancelotti's pecking order.
Though such a situation is yet to play out, we'd still have him as the No. 1 choice in goal.
RB: Juanfran
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For the defensive solidarity he brings, Juanfran just gets the nod in this XI over the more enterprising Daniel Carvajal from Real Madrid.
A Spain international possessing experience, positional awareness and also considerable attacking flair of his own, the 29-year-old has been a critical component of Diego Simeone's resilient outfit since his switch from Osasuna in 2011.
Having started the season strongly in a string of typical Atletico games, Juanfran has also edged the form battle with Carvajal who struggled in the 4-2 loss to Real Sociedad at the Estadio Anoeta prior to the international break.
CB: Diego Godin
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Comfortably one of the most influential central defenders in Europe last season, Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin waltzes into this combined XI.
In the centre of Diego Simeone's defence, the Uruguayan underpins everything Los Rojiblancos do at the back, leading and directing his teammates superbly while also standing as a pillar of reliability and strength at the core of his manager's lineup.
So fine was Godin's 2013-14 campaign that Bayern Munich were reportedly prepared to splash £27 million on the 28-year-old to significantly bolster Pep Guardiola's defence.
And while Real Madrid's Pepe and Raphael Varane represent fine competition for a place in this XI, Godin sits ahead of both.
CB: Sergio Ramos
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If you were to examine Sergio Ramos' recent scoring record, you could be forgiven for thinking he was one of Spain's most lethal forwards.
Indeed, when the Real Madrid defender slotted home a cool penalty for Spain against Macedonia on Monday, it was his eighth goal in his last 17 appearances for club and country, per WhoScored.com.
The most famous of those, of course, was his last-minute equaliser in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in May.
And yet, for all the 28-year-old's attacking capabilities, he also remains one of the continent's finest central defenders, blending staggering strength in the air with pace across the turf.
Those qualities were even on show as Los Blancos succumbed to Real Sociedad, with Ramos completing four blocks, three clearances, two interceptions and two tackles to go along with his first-half goal, per WhoScored.com.
LB: Fabio Coentrao
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Like Juanfran at right-back, Fabio Coentrao has been selected into this combined XI for his defensive reliability on the left-hand side.
Considerably more conservative than teammate Marcelo, the Portuguese has rarely been a permanent fixture in Real Madrid's starting lineup, sharing the duties with the Brazilian depending upon the team's opponent as well as his own injury status.
But as was witnessed at this summer's World Cup in Brazil, Marcelo's defensive contribution remains questionable, with his average positional awareness and inclination to push forward often leaving him vulnerable when the ball is lost.
Those weaknesses were again on show against Real Sociedad, leaving us to promote Coentrao ahead of him.
MF: Gabi
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Put simply, Atletico Madrid captain Gabi is Diego Simeone's finest soldier.
Relentless in his work ethic, the 31-year-old is the heart and soul of Los Rojiblancos' midfield, harassing opponents, sliding in for tackles, intercepting passes and chasing down loose balls, doing everything possible to shield his back four.
While technically inferior to Sergio Busquets in La Liga in his position, the defensive midfielder was comfortably more influential than the Barcelona star last term, also standing head and shoulders above any of Real Madrid's holding options in midfield now that Xabi Alonso has departed.
If you had to pick a player in Spain to be the central rock who allows those ahead of him to prosper, it would definitely be Gabi.
MF: Luka Modric
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Selecting one of Real Madrid's numerous playmakers to complement the robust Gabi is extremely difficult, with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez and Isco all fine options.
Yet, it's hard to look past Modric, who was Carlo Ancelotti's outstanding central midfielder in 2013-14 and still stands as the most cohesive midfield option in the Italian's evolving XI.
Possessing outstanding vision, comfortable in tight spaces and adept at servicing Real's rampant front three, the Croatian has quickly become a favourite at the Bernabeu, quietly keeping everything ticking over while bigger names grab the headlines and the accolades.
MF: Koke
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When deciding on the final member of this midfield trio, it was important to remember which sort of qualities best complement the existing pair, while also identifying a player capable of ensuring this 4-3-3 system flows.
When those factors were considered, Atletico Madrid's Koke was the obvious choice.
In such a formation, the midfield needs a player capable of working the length of the pitch, tracking back before surging forward to join the attacks.
Basically, grunt is required.
Strong and surprisingly swift across the turf, the talented Spaniard provides exactly that—qualities that have been particularly evident when the 22-year-old has lined up in the more deliberate and one-paced Spain midfield.
Also a dead-ball specialist, Koke produces some of the most threatening deliveries in La Liga in set-piece situations.
FW: Gareth Bale
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And now comes the easy part: Selecting a front three for this combined XI.
Despite the presence of versatile Atletico Madrid forwards such as Antoine Griezmann and Raul Garcia, Gareth Bale is easily the most accomplished and devastating right winger available.
Since joining Real Madrid from Tottenham last summer, the Welshman has gradually grown to be an integral piece in Carlo Ancelotti's side, forming a dynamic partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to complete the most gifted attack in Europe.
Having shrugged aside the fitness concerns that bothered him during last year's pre-season, Bale looks set for a prolific campaign at the Bernabeu in 2014-15.
FW: Karim Benzema
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One could make a case for Mario Mandzukic to earn a place in this team ahead of Karim Benzema, given the Croatian's fine beginning to life in Madrid.
But doing so would ignore how important the Frenchman's interplay with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale is to the dynamic of Real Madrid's front three.
As the central fulcrum of Carlo Ancelotti's attack, Benzema's ability to lay the ball off and play in his attacking teammates has helped Real Madrid to harness the complete capacity of the side's devastating wingers.
While Mandzukic is a potent scorer, Benzema's greater versatility gives him the edge.
FW: Cristiano Ronaldo
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An automatic selection, there's no doubting Cristiano Ronaldo is the finest forward available to this XI and possibly the finest in the world.
Joining Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale in this front three, the Portuguese is capable of wreaking havoc against all opponents, reflected in his staggering scoring record at Real Madrid.
Of course, Los Blancos will harbour concerns for the ongoing fitness issues plaguing Ronaldo in the early weeks of the season, but that can't keep the Ballon d'Or winner out of this lineup.
