The latest instalment of the Madrid derby will take place at Bernabeu on Saturday evening, with Real Madrid welcoming Atletico Madrid for a top-of-the-table battle in Spain's top flight.
Real Madrid:
Real Madrid head into this crucial Madrid derby in first place, but they are only one point ahead of Atletico, making this a must-win clash to maintain their lead. While their season has been a bit inconsistent, with the shock 1-0 loss to Espanyol last weekend, Carlo Ancelotti’s side remains a formidable force. Their midweek Copa del Rey win over Leganes, thanks to a late Gonzalo Garcia goal, showed their resilience. However, with the upcoming Champions League playoff against Manchester City looming, Ancelotti will need to keep his focus on La Liga, where the margin for error is razor-thin. At home, Los Blancos have been strong, winning 9 of 10 league games at the Bernabeu this season.
Atletico Madrid:
Atletico Madrid, though not widely considered title favorites at the start of the season, are very much in the title picture. Diego Simeone’s side have been excellent this term, sitting just a point behind Real Madrid and with a strong recent run of form. They thrashed Getafe 5-0 in the Copa del Rey to secure a semi-final spot and followed that up with a 2-0 win over Mallorca. Atletico’s impressive away form this season, having earned 18 points from 10 matches, makes them a threat in this derby. They’ve been tough to beat in recent league meetings with Real, going unbeaten in the last four encounters. However, they haven’t won a league match at the Bernabeu since February 2016, so that will be a key statistic for Simeone’s men to overcome.
Prediction:1-1
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid stream and TV listing
Germany:DAZN Germany
Montenegro:Arena 1 Premium
International:Score808 808ball