The Rojiblancos have only conceded 30 goals in La Liga this year but the Argentina international believes that the Merengues have to players to break Diego Simeone’s men down
Gonzalo Higuain says Atletico Madrid have obvious “weak points” that Real Madrid must exploit in order to win the Copa del Rey.
The two sides will meet at the Santiago Bernabeu on Friday, with los Blancos the overwhelming favourites to prevail on account of the fact that they have not been beaten by their city rivals in any competition since 1999.
Consequently, while los Colchoneros currently boast the best defence in La Liga, Higuain believes that free-scoring Madrid are set for more derby success.
“If Atletico have conceded fewer goals this season, it’s because they’re playing well,” the Argentine acknowledged during an interview with Bwin.
“But our idea is to look for their weak points, which they have. And I hope that’s reflected on Friday and we can take it.”
Some pundits are viewing the final as a direct shootout between Merengues hotshot Cristiano Ronaldo and Rojiblancos hitman Radamel Falcao, but Higuain does not see it that way.
“Of course they’re going to be important, but the key is for the team to be at its best, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” the forward explained.
“If we can do that, we have great possibilities of the Cup being ours.”
The touchline battle is also being talked up, with the always lively Jose Mourinho pitting his wits against the very passionate Diego Simeone, and Higuain has great respect for both men.
“They are great coaches,” he enthused. “So it is going to be an exciting match between two life-long rivals in the Madrid derby, and I hope the winner is our coach, because that means that we are going to win the game.”
However, Higuain dismissed the suggestion that the fact that the game is being played at Madrid’s home ground will give Mourinho’s men a massive advantage.
“I hope we can use that factor, but later it will be divided up half and half, so I don’t think it’s going to have an influence.”
The eagerly-awaited Copa derby kicks off at the Santiago Bernabeu at 21:30CET.