EXCLUSIVE | 'We have to be strong defensively' - Alexander Sorloth on where Madrid derby could be decided

With the La Liga title race tightening and Barcelona holding a four-point lead over Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid’s trip to the Santiago Bernabeu carries added urgency. A nine-point gap separates Diego Simeone’s side from their city rivals, making this derby a pivotal moment in their domestic campaign.

Yet, for striker Alexander Sorloth, the narrative is less about pressure and more about opportunity.

Fresh off demanding Champions League wins, Sorloth insists fatigue will not define the contest, stressing that games of this magnitude override physical strain. Even with Thibaut Courtois absent for Madrid, the Norwegian striker remains wary of the depth both squads possess. With a Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona and a Copa del Rey final looming, Sorloth's focus remains singular: win every game, starting with a derby likely to be decided on discipline and clinical counter-attacks.

Excerpts:Q. With both teams coming off demanding Champions League fixtures midweek, how much of a factor do you expect fatigue to play?Sorloth: We have a tough schedule but both of us, both teams have really good squads. So we have the possibility to rotate but these are the biggest games of the season so we've motivated. You don't think about fatigue or you don't think about being tired. You just want to play and perform.Q. With Thibaut Courtois unavailable, do you approach this game any differently knowing Real Madrid will be without one of the world’s top goalkeepers? How much of a factor do injuries to opposition players pose to the planning?Sorloth: It depends who it is, of course. Real Madrid have a really good second goalkeeper (Andriy Lunin) as well. I think they are prepared for these type of things.

It's the same with us. We are missing Jan Oblak, who for me is the best goalkeeper in the world. But we have Juan (Musso), who is really good as well. That's the good thing for the best teams. They usually have good substitutes as well.

Q. You have Champions League (vs Barcelona) and Copa del Rey final (vs Real Sociedad) in the next month. Will that impact how you approach this game and rest of the league calendar?Sorloth: For me, no. I want to win every single game I step on the pitch for. This is my main focus. I think this is what my teammates think as well. Every time we go on the pitch, we just want to win. We take it game by game and hope to win every single one. Q. Madrid derbies are often tight and tactical — as a striker, what do you identify as the key moments or weaknesses you’ll look to exploit against this Real Madrid defence?Sorloth: I think we have to be strong defensively. I think we have to be good on counter-attacks because normally at Bernabeu they have a lot of ball. We have to be strong, we have to be tight. And then be deadly on counter-attacks.