Key events
Real Madrid’s form has been generally good of late, but it’s easy to forget they actually lost their last La Liga game, 1-0 at Espanyol, which was a real stinker of a performance. They were thrashed by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia but haven’t lost at home since 5 November. Atletico have lost just one away game since 27 October.
Will something give tonight? Where’s your money?
Elsewhere in La Liga Athletic Club de Bilbao continued their hot-streak with a commanding 3-0 home win over fellow top four hopefuls Girona today, while Celta Vigo beat Real Betis 3-2 in a mid-table clash – despite a goal from on-loan Manchester United man Antony. Villarreal boosted their European hopes with a 2-1 win at Las Palmas.
You wonder whether Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will be watching on tonight, given they welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad on Tuesday night for the first leg of their marquee Champions League playoff tie.
Guardiola complained recently that the English football authorities don’t give their clubs a helping hand re fixture schedules, but La Liga have hardly been overly kind to Real, handing them a Saturday night derby before a Tuesday in east Manchester. Such is the way with modern football.
What a welcome! This game is a seriously big deal in the Spanish capital.
This is by no means the only live football game on this evening. Get your eyes around the others.
Real Madrid might have their fair share of defensive injuries – Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal remain out while David Alaba is still working his way back – but that’s a heck of a squad in terms of depth elsewhere. Camavinga is only deemed ready enough for the bench, with the Tchouaméni-Asencio partnership in central defence the only obvious flaw.
Conor Gallagher doesn’t make the start for Atletico, who will be looking to the in-form Giuliano Simeone – son of head coach Diego, of course – to make an impact from the start. And there’s always super sub Alexander Sørloth to come off the bench and score a goal.
Team news
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Vázquez, Tchouaméni, Asencio, F.Garcia; Valverde, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappé.
Subs: Lunin, Camavinga, Modric, Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Brahim, Mendy, G.Garcia, Ramon, Mestre, Aguado.
Atlético Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Giménez, Lenglet, Galán; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez.
Subs: Musso, Azpilicueta, Gallagher, Koke, Sørloth, Correa, Lemar, Molina, Riquelme, Witsel, Reinildo, Kostis.
Preamble
A Madrid derby is always big – but this feels especially big in the context of the current La Liga standings. The Santiago Bernabéu is going to be absolutely rocking, with the Madridistas knowing a draw or a win would keep their side top of the pile. Barcelona would smell a chance if it does end level; they visit Sevilla tomorrow.
Atlético have only lost twice in 22 league games this season, conceding just 14 goals and you just know Diego Simeone will relish the opportunity to topple Real and go top in one fell swoop.
Real will likely be boosted by the return of superstars Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé, as well as Lucas Vazquez, and Eduardo Camavinga. The quartet all missed the 3-2 Copa Del Rey win at Leganes in midweek. The visitors will be without defender Robin Le Normand through suspension.
This should be a cracker. Let’s get going. Kickoff is at 9pm local time (8pm GMT).
