Iker Casillas the only Real Madrid member to have tasted defeat against Atletico Madrid – La Liga News
It has been twelve years since Real Madrid experienced defeat in the Madrid derby. Santiago Bernabéu has undergone several eras of change and the only man standing since that defeat is http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Iker-Casillas-c16815.
Now 30, the Spanish captain is a veteran of Madrid derbies. No other player in the current squads of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were on the pitch when Los Rojiblancos last won in the derby. It was October 30, 1999, and Casillas was then a peripheral
part of the dressing room.
It is hard to envision a Real Madrid squad in the last decade which did not have Casillas in the spotlight. The teenager then fought for first team duties with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Albano-Bizzarri-c4280 and Bodo Illgner.
The German international used to be first choice of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 del Bosque, although Bodo played in the squad on that fateful day, as Bizzarri was not feeling well.
Three first half goals and a pathetic performance from the experienced Bodo, who was eventually given his marching orders just after the half time, compelled Del Bosque to change his designated man between the posts.
Casillas came on the pitch, replacing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Guti-c15452. Since then, Iker has been almost immovable in Los Blancos dressing room. He has played 20 derbies in La Liga and is yet to be conquered.
He has managed to keep eight clean sheets, giving some memorable performances en route to this magnificent record against cross-town rivals. He has risen to the challenge and his best time has come at the home of their eternal rivals.
He has frustrated the likes of strikers http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Torres-c13707, who managed to score a single miserly goal.
Gonzalo Higuain scored his first goal for Real Madrid in the 2006/07 season in the famous Madrid derby. The heroics of young argentine were particularly helpful as Atletico were cruising in that fateful February 25 encounter.
Twelve years after their defeat in 1999, Casillas is captain of Los Blancos and Spanish national team. He has also broken La Roja’s all-time international appearances record, overtaking Andoni Zubizarreta.
The modest captain has played down the role of favourites in the match and stated that both teams are equal in the competition.
"We are not the favourites, nor are we stupid. The derby is more than a match for Atletico. They have gone long years without winning it and want to break that streak, finally."
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