The Madrid derby takes center stage this Saturday as Real Madrid hosts Atletico Madrid in a high-stakes La Liga showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu. With just one point separating the two sides at the top of the table, this clash could have major implications on the title race.
Match Preview
Real Madrid may not have been at their best this season, but they remain at the summit of La Liga while also competing in the Champions League and Copa del Rey. Their latest outing saw them edge past Leganes 3-2 in the cup, securing a semi-final spot thanks to a late Gonzalo Garcia winner.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s men suffered a setback in the league last weekend with a surprising 1-0 defeat to Espanyol. That loss has tightened the title race, with Atletico hot on their heels and Barcelona lurking just four points behind. Madrid has already suffered a heavy home defeat to a title rival this season, falling 4-0 to Barcelona, and will be determined to avoid a similar fate against their city rivals.
Recent league encounters between these two teams have been closely contested, with the last two meetings ending in 1-1 draws. Atletico have proven to be a tough opponent, and with momentum on their side, they will be eager to extend their strong run against Los Blancos.
Atletico Madrid have exceeded expectations this season, emerging as genuine title contenders while also progressing to the Champions League knockout rounds and the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Diego Simeone’s men thrashed Getafe 5-0 in midweek to advance in the cup and were comfortable 2-0 winners against Mallorca in their last league outing.
Atletico have been strong on the road, collecting 18 points away from home, but they face a daunting challenge against a Real Madrid side that has won nine of their 10 league matches at the Bernabeu this season.
Historically, Atletico have struggled at the Bernabeu, last winning a league game there in February 2016. However, they are unbeaten in their last four La Liga meetings with Real Madrid and have lost just one of the last six, making them a formidable opponent in this crucial fixture.
Team News
Real Madrid could receive a boost with the potential returns of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Lucas Vazquez, and Eduardo Camavinga, all of whom missed the midweek cup match. However, Antonio Rudiger remains sidelined with a thigh issue, while long-term absentees Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal continue their recovery.
David Alaba is back in contention after a lengthy injury absence, but Aurelien Tchouameni and Raul Asencio are expected to start at center-back for this derby.
Atletico Madrid will be without Robin Le Normand due to suspension, but otherwise, Simeone has a fully fit squad. Pablo Barrios has returned to training and could feature, while Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez are set to lead the attack.
Jan Oblak is expected to return in goal after being rested in the cup, while Marcos Llorente, Clement Lenglet, and Conor Gallagher should also return to the starting XI.
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid:
Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Atletico Madrid:
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann
