Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa says that Saturday's derby clash with Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is a meeting of two of Europe's top teams.
This weekend's derby is unusual in that Atletico arrive at the Bernabeu eight points ahead of their city rivals in the Primera Division standings, and the Spanish international defender told Bwin's website that Colchoneros coach Diego Simeone has brought a huge change to his club.
"You only have to look at the table and especially see how they are playing to realise this," Arbeloa said. "Since Simeone arrived I think that they have changed completely. They are now one of the best teams in Europe."