When Atlético Madrid scored against Real Madrid in the city derby at the Vicente Calderón in January 2015 and the old place erupted, a tiny ballboy in a white bib came running along the touchline from his position near the bench and leapt into the arms of the coach, Diego Simeone.
Giuliano Simeone makes name for himself and eyes Madrid derby spoils Son of Atlético manager is enjoying breakthrough season and prepares to face leaders Real Madrid for the first time.
The run ended at Leganés, knocking them back off the top of the table, and a draw with Villarreal followed, but he was then decisive against Salzburg, Mallorca and Getafe, taking Atlético into the top eight of the Champions League, the semi-final of the Copa del Rey and to within a point of Madrid at the top of the table.
Giuliano joined Atlético at 16, having spent his early teenage years with River Plate in Argentina, moving into the family home in La Finca, west of the city, but father and son no longer live together since he returned from a loan spell at Alavés.
If Mbappé’s recovery was always likely, if Real Madrid coming into this derby top of the table was just logic imposed again, the same was not true of Simeone.
