Atletico Madrid will be looking to open up a nine-point gap over Real Madrid in Spain's top flight when the two teams lock horns at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Saturday night.
Diego Simeone's side have made a brilliant start to the 2020-21 campaign, picking up 26 points from 10 matches to sit top of the table, six points clear of fourth-placed Real Madrid with a game in hand.
Atletico have actually won their last seven in the league, while they are unbeaten in Spain's top flight since a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu back in February.
The league leaders booked their spot in the knockout stage of the Champions League on Wednesday courtesy of a 2-0 victory away to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, also ensured that they would be present in the last-16 stage of the European Cup due to a 2-0 home success over Borussia Monchengladbach on the same night.
The two teams have locked horns on 166 occasions in the league, and Real Madrid lead the head-to-head 88 wins to Atletico's 39, with the remaining 39 matches finishing all square.
Some of La Liga's biggest talents will be on display in this game and with that in mind, Sports Mole picks a combined XI from both squads, using only players available for the contest.
Both Real Madrid and Atletico have outstanding goalkeepers, but it was not a difficult decision to pick Jan Oblak between the sticks in this particular XI. The 27-year-old has again been in terrific form this season, conceding just twice in 10 La Liga appearances, keeping eight clean sheets in the process. Oblak is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in world football and deserves his spot in the side over Thibaut Courtois.
A back three consists of two Real Madrid players and one from Atletico, with Stefan Savic representing the Red and Whites. Jose Gimenez would have been in the side had he been available, but the Uruguay international is out with a muscular problem. Savic has again been a key player for Atletico this term, and he is joined at the back by Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. Ramos, who is back from a recent injury, remains an inspirational figure for Los Blancos, while Varane is still one of the best central defenders in world football despite some poor performances over the last six months.
Kieran Trippier gets the nod over Dani Carvajal as the right-sided wing-back, with the England international impressing since arriving at the Wanda Metropolitano. Trippier has improved defensively under the management of Simeone and is allegedly wanted by Manchester United during next summer's transfer window. Saul Niguez, meanwhile, is selected on the left, with the Spaniard having the versatility to play in a number of positions. The 26-year-old should line up in the middle of the park for Atletico on Saturday but played as a defender earlier in his career and would certainly provide energy and discipline in a wide area.
Marcos Llorente is perhaps a surprise inclusion, but the 25-year-old simply could not be left out of this side, having been in excellent form during the opening months of the 2020-21 season. The former Real Madrid midfielder has managed five goals and three assists in 16 appearances at club level this term and has to be in the XI. Toni Kroos, meanwhile, gets the nod over the likes of Koke, Luka Modric and Casemiro to take the other spot. The Germany international remains a key player for Real Madrid and would provide balance in the middle of the park.
Joao Felix, meanwhile, is selected just behind the front two, with the 21-year-old impressing in 2020-21. Felix has scored eight times in 16 appearances in all competitions, including five goals in 10 league outings, and there is no question that he will be a threat to Real Madrid this weekend.
Felix is joined by Atletico teammate Luis Suarez, who has managed five goals in seven league appearances since his arrival from Barcelona. The Uruguay international has recently been unavailable due to coronavirus, but he made his return against Real Valladolid last weekend and is expected to be in the starting XI on Saturday night.
The final spot in the side is taken by Karim Benzema, and it was not difficult to select the Frenchman over the likes of Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes, who have all struggled for form this season. Benzema netted a brace against Gladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday night and has scored four times in nine league appearances this term. There remains a lot of talk surrounding a potential new forward arriving at the Bernabeu, but Benzema is still a hugely important figure for Zidane's side.
Matt Law
