Former Barcelona striker, \u2018El Pistolero\u2019 Luis Suarez, is all fired up for Saturday\u2019s Madrid Derby, with the Uruguay striker gearing up to face Real Madrid for the first time as an Atletico player, having only faced them numerous times before this as a dominant part of the MSN strike force in his Barcelona heydays.<\/p>\n
The still-in-form forward joined Diego Simeone\u2019s side in the summer from after having been deemed surplus to current Barca coach Ronald Koeman\u2019s plans and was forced to make a retreat to Atletico Madrid. Suarez has since been in fine form for his new club, probably to the astonishment and embarrassment of the Barca boss who has not been having exactly the finest moments of glory in his new job since taking over the reins from ousted ex boss Quique Setien. Suarez has scored five goals in eleven matches across all competitions this season so far and is expected to notch more the rest of this season.<\/p>\n
Suarez expressed his frustration\u00a0at being brought off in the second half of his team\u2019s 2-0 victory against RB Salzburg in the Champions League\u00a0on Wednesday. Manager Diego Simeone will no doubt be hoping for the 33-year-old to channel his frustrations on their city rivals this weekend in the derby.<\/p>\n
Beleaguered Zinedine Zidane and his Real Madrid side will most likely in keen anticipation of what to expect from the striker when the two teams meet in La Liga for the first time this season, although stopping him would be a different proposition altogether.<\/p>\n
Suarez had been an integral part of Spain\u2019s famed \u2018El Clasico\u2019 fixture on sixteen occasions over his six years as a Barcelona player with his scintillating peformances with eleven goals scored.<\/p>\n
The former Liverpool frontman will be looking to stir up more of the same action and glory for his new team when he lines up for Atletico tomorrow night, telling Marca\u00a0that he accepts Simeone\u2019s decision to bring him off against Salzburg.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe that because I came from Barcelona they can\u2019t substitute me,\u201d Suarez admitted.<\/p>\n
Real Madrid are preparing for the fixture knowing that defeat will leave them nine points behind their city rivals, who have played a game fewer.<\/p>\n
Zidane\u2019s side currently sit fourth in the league standings but did ensure Champions League progression with a 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Frenchman has conceded that Atletico are favourites for the title this season. \u201cThat\u2019s what they\u2019re showing. They\u2019re playing well; they\u2019re winning. They\u2019ve always been competitive, [and] they\u2019re top of the table today,\u201d 48-year-old Zidane said when quizzed on whether their rivals could clinch a first league title since 2014.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"