Joao Felix faces his bogey team: 9 official matches, 0 goals, 0 wins

Joao Felix has a lot of chances to be included in Xavi Hernandez's starting eleven for the 'Clasico' against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final. His good performance in the semi-final against Osasuna puts the Portuguese in a good spot to have the confidence of the 'Cule' coach. 

However, the Portuguese is not at all good at playing against Madrid, who he has yet to score or beaten in an official match. Atletico Madrid's 3-7 pre-season win over Real Madrid in the United States in 2019 was a trend at the time, also because it was Joao Felix's first game against 'Los Blancos'. 

The former Benfica man stole the show by providing two assists and scoring a goal. But it was still a friendly match. Since then, there has been little news from Joao Falix in his face-to-face matches against 'Los Blancos'.

9 official matches, 0 wins, 0 goals

Joao Felix has played 9 official matches against Real Madrid. The first, a 0-0 draw in La Liga in 2019-20 in which neither Atlético nor Madrid shone. The Portuguese played just over 70 minutes. Months later, another derby, this time in the Spanish Super Cup, and another goalless draw that, this time, was decided in the penalty shootout in favour of the 'merengue' team.

In the third meeting, already in the 2020-21 campaign, Real Madrid neutralised the Portuguese and won the match 2-0 at the Di Stefano. During the second leg at the Metropolitano, Atletico drew (1-1) in the derby and Joao Felix was a substitute. He was also a substitute in the 2021-22 season, when Ancelotti's Madrid took all three points at the Santiago Bernabéu with goals from Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio. Without much impact in the derbies, Joao was dropping down the pecking order.

In the 2022-23 season he started in Atletico's 1-2 defeat to Real Madrid at the Metropolitano. He played up to three times last season against Real Madrid, but two of them were in a Chelsea shirt after arriving at the English club on loan in the winter transfer window. In the Champions League quarter-final tie between the Blues and Real Madrid, the Portuguese did start the first leg at the Bernabeu in a game that 'Los Blancos' won 2-0, again with goals from Benzema and Asensio. In the second leg, Joao Félix came off the bench in another 2-0 win for the 'Merengues'.

Already at Barcelona in this 2023-24, Joao Felix played his first 'Clasico' in a La Liga clash at Montjuic a few months ago. It wasn't his best game either and Xavi decided to substitute him in the 77th minute. In total, 9 official games: no goals and no wins against Madrid. ​

 

January 14, 2024