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REAL MADRID

Madrid covered 11 kilometres less ground than Atleti

Saúl (13.08 km), Gabi (12.26) and Koke (12.25) were Simeone’s most mobile players in the derby. Only Toni Kroos broke the 11-kilometre mark in Zidane’s team according to LaLiga Stats.

Gabi covering ground during Saturday's derby
PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOUAFP

When you play against a side who played three days ago, you need to do more, run more, put your chances away”. Zidane wasn’t holding back during his post-match press conference, and the Frenchman’s comments were backed up by the data. According to LaLiga Stats, which collates data from the Spanish top flight, Real Madrid covered 11 kilometres less ground than Atlético at the Bernabéu. Los Blancos ran 108 kilometres compared with the Los Rojiblancos’ 119. The difference is even more alarming given that Simeone’s charges were in midweek action against PSV and only had 58 hours to recover for Saturday’s derby encounter.

Taking a look at the individual performances, the high work rate by the visitors in the middle of the park tells its own story. Simeone’s three most proficient blades of grass covers were Saúl (13.08 km), Gabi (12.26) and Koke (12.25). Toni Kroos clocked up the most mileage for Real Madrid: 11.05 km. Following behind the German midfielder were Carvajal (10.92) and Ramos (10.6).

Saturday wasn’t the first time Madrid have lagged behind their opponents on the distance stakes. In each of the team’s four La Liga defeats, their opponents kept the heat map busier. Barcelona, Sevilla and Villarreal outran them by seven, seven and five kilometres respectively. The same is also true looking at the team’s six draws this season (Sporting, Atlético, Valencia, Málaga - home and away - and Betis).

Real Madrid kilometre count in LaLiga

Km. Real Madrid Km. Rival 1. Sporting-R. Madrid 111 118 2. R. Madrid-Betis 106 105 3. Espanyol-R. Madrid 104 102 4. R. Madrid-Granada 108 115 5. Athletic-R. Madrid 108 112 6. R. Madrid-Málaga 108 113 7. Atlético-R.Madrid 111 120 8. R. Madrid-Levante 111 111 9. Celta-R. Madrid 111 107 10. R. Madrid-Las Palmas 110 113 11. Sevilla-Real Madrid 111 118 12. Madrid-Barcelona 105 112 13. Eibar-R. Madrid 103 108 14. R. Madrid-Getafe 107 107 15. Villarreal-R. Madrid 109 113 16. R. Madrid-Rayo 104 95 17. R. Madrid-Real Sociedad 109 116 18. Valencia Madrid 103 110 19. Madrid-Deportivo 109 108 20. Madrid-Sporting 108 111 21. Betis-R. Madrid 108 115 22.R.Madrid-Espanyol 106 110 23. Granada-R. Madrid 86 89 24. R.Madrid-Athletic 107 112 25. Málaga-R. Madrid 106 112 26. R. Madrid-Atlético 108 119