Madrid don't want to hear or speak about the 7-3 defeat in the pre-season derby

Atletico Madrid head into the first competitive Madrid derby of the season full of confidence based on their 7-3 victory over their arch rivals in pre-season, however Real Madrid simply don't want to hear anything about the result in New Jersey.

After a mixed start to the season, Real Madrid have put together two successive victories against Sevilla and Osasuna and have performed well in both matches.

Zinedine Zidane came under incredible pressure following the 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, and these two results were exactly what he needed to keep the wolves from the door, albeit only temporarily.

For now though, he only wants his players to look back on the spirit and intensity they showed since the Paris debacle, and not allow their minds to wander back to New Jersey where they suffered a humbling at the hands of Diego Simeone's new-look Los Rojiblancos.

"It has nothing to do with tomorrow's game," Zidane responded in his pre-match press conference.

"If you're going to ask the same thing then I'm going to give you the same answer.

"I haven't bothered to watch that match again."

Whilst it was essentially a meaningless friendly, it left a mark on Zidane's second term which he is desperate to erase, regardless of what he says in public.

Los Merengues can't allow their image to be tainted by such performances, especially when they are abroad showcasing the brand which has been steadily bolstered by the string of Champions League wins the French coach presided over.

Real Madrid's players are aiming to avoid a repeat of the 7-3 humiliation and are looking to play in much the same way they did at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, another tricky away trip.

Given Barcelona's erratic domestic form, the winner of the first Madrid derby of the season could take a huge step forward in the title race, and with Los Blancos having proved they are still united as a team, there is every confidence that they can come through what is their biggest test of the season so far.