Casillas fired up for Atletico clash

Casillas fired up for Atletico clash

Published Nov. 6, 2010 5:07 p.m. ET

Iker Casillas is out to inflict more derby misery on Atletico as Real Madrid host their local rivals at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

Casillas, who is one of the few local boys in either team following this summer's departures of Real veterans Raul and Guti, is understandably keen to improve on those remarkable records, although he is well aware that history will count for little tomorrow night.

"Our good run against them is just statistics. If we spoke to (summer signings Mesut and Sami) Ozil or Khedira I don't think it would matter too much to them, because all they want to do is win the match," said the 29-year-old Casillas, who made his senior Real debut in 1999.

"To the players who have been here longer, like Sergio (Ramos) and me, the matter of the good run maybe means a little more, but what we want regardless of statistics is to win.

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"I'm from Madrid, so I know what it means. You can feel it in the streets. Atletico look forward to defeating us, but we hope to maintain the good streak we have against them."

Spain's World Cup-winning captain, whose side are unbeaten and have won 10 of 14 games under Mourinho this season, added: "I don't think they (Atletico) will come out already beaten. I'm sure they're eager to give a good performance and defeat us at the Bernabeu.

"They have great players. (Sergio) Aguero, (Diego) Forlan, Simao (Sabrosa)...they are big players who stand out in big moments."

Casillas is also taking little comfort in the poor run of form that Forlan is currently going through.

The Uruguayan has been a prolific goalscorer throughout his six seasons in Spain with Villarreal and Atletico, twice winning the European Golden Boot, but he has failed to net in his last 11 Primera Division and Europa League appearances.

Casillas said: "Maybe he's not scoring goals, but last year he had a very good season and could hit back at any moment."

Forlan, whose last goal for Atletico came in mid-September, is hoping he can end his barren spell this weekend.

"Hopefully. I'm feeling good heading into this derby. I want to recover the happiness of scoring goals. It's not the first time this has happened to me and I need to continue working hard. I know what I have to do continue improving," said the former Manchester United man, who insists his side will not settle for a draw tomorrow.

"One always goes out to win games, and then is you achieve it or not depends on the circumstances," he added in AS.

"We will try to do everything we can to get the victory."

Both clubs go into the match on the back of good European results in midweek.

Real netted a 94th-minute equaliser against AC Milan at the San Siro to secure a 2-2 draw that earned Mourinho's men a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with two group games to spare.

Quique Sanchez Flores' Atletico, meanwhile, emerged victorious from a tough Europa League against Rosenborg in Norway on Thursday thanks to a sensational late goal from Tiago.

Atletico are sixth in the Primera Division standings on 14 points, nine behind Real.

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