Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet in another capital derby on Sunday evening, this time in La Liga where ten points separate the two teams.

Los Blancos are currently perched at the top of the table having won their last six league games straight, most recently overcoming Getafe 2-0 in midweek away from home.

Atletico arrive at the Bernabeu in impressive form themselves, winning four of their last five matches in La Liga. The only blip of late was the 4-3 defeat at Girona, who could sit in first before kick-off if they win their game against Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Sunday’s Madrid derby.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current Form (all competitions)

Madrid are nervously waiting to see how Antonio Rudiger pulls up before the capital derby. The Germany international came off at half-time against Getafe, though manager Carlo Ancelotti has backed him to recover in time.

Los Blancos are already without centre-backs Eder Militao and David Alaba due to significant injuries, while Thibaut Courtois’ absence has seen Andriy Lunin earn regular minutes between the sticks. Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended after picking up a fifth booking of the season.

Rumours continue to swirl over Luka Modric’s future. The Croatian may well be into his final season at the Bernabeu but is unlikely to be given a lengthy farewell tour, having started only ten of a possible 22 La Liga games.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Atletico Madrid (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Garcia; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.

Alvaro Morata is on track to register the best goalscoring league season of his career having netted 13 La Liga goals so far in 2023/24, but a muscle injury means he won’t be fit to face his former club on Sunday. Memphis Depay is his most likely replacement.

The Spanish striker joins Vitolo, Thomas Lemar, Marcos Paulo, Cesar Azpilicueta and Jose Gimenez on the sidelines, but Antoine Griezmann is available and will be eyeing a repeat of his sensational goal when Atleti beat their city rivals 4-2 in the Copa del Rey in mid January.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (3-5-2): Oblak; Hermoso, Witsel, Reinildo; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, Depay.

Thanks to their previous clash in La Liga and further fixtures in the Supercopa de Espana and Copa del Rey, this will be the fourth time Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have faced off in 2023/24.

It’s Atletico who have enjoyed greater success so far, beating their rivals twice, but the trip to the Bernabeu presents a fresh challenge. Diego Simeone hasn’t seen his side win at the stadium since 2016, while Los Blancos have only dropped points once in a home fixture all season.

Ancelotti’s side have won three games since their Copa del Rey exit, albeit in less convincing fashion, and another tight victory might be in store.

Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid

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