Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's mouth-watering Madrid derby at the Bernabeu!
Real may have the home advantage coming into this match, but it is Atletico who have the better form following the midweek results and they could leapfrog their city rivals in the table tonight. It promises to be a very intriguing encounter, as it always is between these two giants of European football and made all the more so by Barcelona dropping points earlier today.
Let's start with a look at the team news...
REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Asensio
REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Asensio
REAL MADRID SUBS: Navas, Diaz, Vazquez, Llorente, Reguilon, Ceballos, Vinicius
ATLETICO MADRID STARTING XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Jimenez, Luis; Koke, Rodri, Saul, Lemar; Costa, Griezmann
ATLETICO MADRID SUBS: Adan, Arias, Partey, Kalinic, Correa, Hernandez, Vitolo
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, there is good news for Real Madrid in that Dani Carvajal returns to the starting lineup after injury, replacing Marcelo in the side this evening after the Brazilian limped off during the defeat to Sevilla in midweek.
That switch will see Nacho move over to the left side of the defence, having played on the right against Sevilla too.
Isco is also still sidelined for the hosts after undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis on Tuesday, meaning that the return of Carvajal is the only change made by
Julen Lopetegui from the midweek defeat.
Thibaut Courtois continues in goal having established himself as the number one ahead of Navas now, while in front of him Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos will need to be at their best this evening to keep Atletico's front two quiet.
Ramos has actually scored as many league goals this season as any
Atletico Madrid player, netting twice, and he is sure to be involved in another ding-dong battle with fellow pantomime villain Diego Costa tonight, the two having enjoyed a running battle during the Super Cup match between the two sides.
In front of them, Casemiro is the main man to protect them, while Toni Kroos and newly-crowned best player in the world Luka Modric make up the midfield trio.
The attacking trio also remains unchanged, with Bale, Benzema and Asensio leading the line having all played their part in making up for the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer.
Benzema has four goals in his six league appearances this season, while Bale has three in five and seems to be thriving with the prospect of being the main man at the Bernabeu.
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As for Atletico, they need their own strikers to start firing, with Griezmann currently leading the scoring charts with two league goals and Diego Costa yet to get off the mark in La Liga this season.
Costa did score twice in the UEFA Super Cup Madrid derby at the start of the season, though, the first of which came inside one minute, so Real will need to be alert from the off tonight.
It was widely expected that Lucas Hernandez would come into the side for tonight's match, but
Diego Simeone has instead decided to stick with Filipe Luis on the left flank, making just one change to his back four.
That switch sees Juanfran come in for Munoz, while Jose Gimenez has overcome an ankle knock to start alongside Godin.
Thomas Lemar has made a positive start to his Atletico career with two goals since his summer move from Monaco, leaving him level with Griezmann in the club's La Liga scoring charts so far.
Simeone does not opt to unleash Thomas Partey as well tonight, though, while there is no place in the squad at all for Gelson Martins.
Saul Niguez and Rodri come into the side after being rested in midweek, replacing Correa and Thomas Partey in the starting XI to make it three changes in all from the win over Huesca.
The likes of Stefan Savic and Santiago Arias are both still sidelined, meanwhile.
It is an Atletico team more than capable of coming to the Bernabeu and winning - as they have shown in recent seasons - and Real Madrid may be quietly wishing that this match came at a different time in the season.
The hosts are coming into this match having suffered their first loss of the campaign on Wednesday night, and it was a chastening defeat too as they were comfortably second best against Sevilla.
Sevilla scored all of their goals in the 3-0 victory inside the opening 40 minutes to stun Real at the Pizjuan - a stadium they have a torrid recent record at - condemning Los Blancos to their first defeat under Lopetegui.
As if the result alone was not disappointing enough, it also saw Real fail to take advantage of Barcelona's loss to Leganes just a couple of hours previously, leaving still second in the table.
Lopetegui will be desperate not to repeat that tonight having seen Barcelona drop yet more points in a draw with Athletic Bilbao earlier today.
Victory tonight would therefore take Real to the top of the table, while defeat would leave them in third place behind both Barca and Atletico - where they finished last season, of course.
Real had made a promising start to the season before that defeat to Sevilla, beating Getafe, Girona, Leganes, Roma and Espanyol and also drawing with Athletic Bilbao in their only dropped points of the campaign before midweek.
However, Atletico fans will also be quick to point out their 4-2 extra time win over their city rivals in the UEFA Super Cup, which got Lopetegui off to a losing start as Real Madrid boss in Tallinn.
Real come into this match having lost just two of their last 18 La Liga games, with both of those defeats coming away to Sevilla.
Real have won 11 of those 18 matches, and the last time that they lost to a team other than Sevilla in the top flight was back in February, when they were beaten 1-0 by Espanyol.
Wednesday's loss to Sevilla means that Real are now facing the possibility of falling to successive La Liga defeats for the first time since November 2015, although they have a good recent record here at the Bernabeu, as you would expect.
Lopetegui's side have won all four of their home matches across all competitions this season, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one in the process.
Indeed, including the final game of last season Real are on the verge of winning six home games on the bounce for the first time since September 2016, and you have to go back to January for their most recent home defeat in La Liga.
Real have gone 12 home games without defeat since then, scoring 42 goals in that time, and tonight they could win six league home games in a row for the first time since February 2017.
Atletico have a very good record here at the Bernabeu, though, and according to the form book they should be confident of continuing that tonight, having shaken off a slow start to the season.
Diego Simeone's side appear to be finding a bit of momentum now, and while Real were 3-0 down inside 40 minutes in midweek, Atletico were three up inside 33 against Huesca.
Admittedly, Huesca are not as stiff opposition as Sevilla, but it was still a comfortable win for Atletico which made it three in a row across all competitions, and back-to-back wins in La Liga for the first time this season.
Another victory tonight would see them win four games in a row for the first time since a run of eight in February, and it would also take them level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table.
Atletico began their campaign with that 4-2 triumph over Real in the UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn, but aside from that their 2018-19 season got off to a shaky start, to the point that this time last week there were claims that they were already out of the title race.
Simeone's side only won one of their opening four league games - a narrow win over Rayo which was interspersed with draws with Valencia and Eibar and a defeat to Celta, prior to this run of three victories on the bounce.
Atletico will begin this match sitting in fourth place due to results earlier today, but Barcelona's draw with Athletic Bilbao means that they would move level with the champions with a victory - a huge turnaround in the space of a week.
As previously mentioned, Atletico were all but ruled out of the title race not long ago, but those defeats for Barcelona and Real in midweek really blew things wide open again, even this early in the season.
Atletico will need to find an improved level of consistency if they are to challenge Barcelona and Real for the title this season, though, having won four, drawn five and lost three of their last 12 La Liga matches.
Indeed, the midweek win over Huesca saw Atletico record back-to-back league wins for the first time since a run of six in a row in February.
February was also the last time Atletico managed to win three away games in a row across all competitions - an achievement they could fulfil tonight following wins over Monaco and Getafe in their last two.
However, their form has been mixed on the road so far this season, drawing with Valencia, losing at Celta and then beating Getafe last weekend.
Simeone's side have only won three of their last nine league away games, though - with four defeats in that time too - so they also need to find more consistency on the road if they are to be genuine title challengers.
Atletico have a Champions League game against Club Brugge to look forward to on Wednesday night, before hosting Real Betis at the Wanda Metropolitano next weekend.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Bernabeu, which means that it is time for a prediction!
These are always tricky ones to call, and ordinarily a safe bet would be a low-scoring affair, but the previous meeting in the UEFA Super Cup certainly did not adhere to that rule. It could go either way, but we're sitting on the fence and going for a draw.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid
This is the 163rd meeting between these two sides in the league, and Real have won 86 of those, with Atletico picking up 39 wins and 37 ending as draws.
However, while a stalemate has been the least common result in the history of the fixture, four of the last five meetings have ended all square.
Real have incredibly not beaten Atletico here at the Bernabeu since 2012-13, though, with Simeone's side having won three of their last five visits to this stadium and drawing the other two.
The most recent of those came in April, when Griezmann offered a swift riposte to Ronaldo's opening goal in a 1-1 draw.
The reverse fixture at the Wanda Metropolitano also ended all square - a goalless stalemate - but there were a flurry of goals when the two sides kicked off the season in the UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn.
Costa opened the scoring after just 50 seconds on that occasion and then went on to rescue extra time after Benzema and Ramos had responded with goals of their own. Saul and Koke then struck in the additional 30 minutes to seal a memorable 4-2 triumph for Atletico.
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Right, we're almost ready to get started here, so let's have a quick reminder of the team news before we do get underway...
REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Asensio
ATLETICO MADRID STARTING XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Jimenez, Luis; Koke, Rodri, Saul, Lemar; Costa, Griezmann
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Real get this Madrid derby underway at the Bernabeu!
SAVE! Courtois is called into action early as Saul lets fly from range, and he strikes it really well. Courtois is alert to beat the ball away, though.
SHOT! This would have been some way to open the scoring! Koke lifts the ball into the box and Griezmann takes it down before unleashing an acrobatic effort which floats high and wide of the target.
Atletico have made a good, positive start to this match, working it around well and creating a couple of early sights of goal at the Bernabeu.
Real are just starting to settle themselves, though, and Bale darts down the right channel before squeezing a cross in which Oblak collects comfortably.
Atletico made a bright start to the match, but they are just struggling to get themselves on the ball and break out of their own half at the moment. Real have assumed control over this one for now.
Kroos swings a corner into the box which Ramos meets with a header, but he is never getting the power on that one to trouble the keeper.
Ramos has stayed down after that one, having clashed heads with Saul. The Madrid skipper has cut his eyebrow and needs some patching up here.
Good pressure from Atletico as they snap at the heels of Real deep inside the home side's half. Real stick to their guns, though, and eventually win a free kick while trying to play out from the back.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Atletico to take the lead, and Griezmann really should give the visitors the lead!
The Frenchman races clean through on goal but appears too relaxed about it and sees his finish denied by a big save from Courtois. How big could that moment prove to be tonight?
That Griezmann chance would have been reviewed on VAR as there was a question over offside, but he still should have finished it. He went for a chipped finish with the outside of his left boot, but Courtois made himself big and saved it with his head.
CLOSE! Real respond with a chance of their own at the other end as Bale steals in at the back post to meet Kroos's delivery. The Welsh winger cushions a volley towards the far bottom corner, but his effort bobbles narrowly wide.
We're midway through this first half now and it is poised very nicely at the moment. Clear chances have been at a premium, but both sides have now created one apiece.
SHOT! Saul again lines up a long-range effort and this time tries to curl it into the bottom corner, but Courtois looks to have it covered as it bounces wide of the target.
There is a bit of concern over Casemiro at the moment, with the Real Madrid midfielder moving gingerly in the last minute or so. Dani Ceballos has been sent out to warm up just in case.
CHANCE! Really good defending from Gimenez as Real come sweeping forward with a move down the right flank. Carvajal puts a low cross into the box for Benzema, but the striker's first-time effort is thwarted by Gimenez.
YELLOW CARD! The first yellow card of the derby is shown to Carvajal for a sliding challenge from behind, although it is slightly harsh on the Real defender.
Atletico want a penalty here as a cross from the left strikes the arm of Casemiro, but he is far too close and the arm is not in an unnatural position. The referee waits for VAR, but no penalty given.
Atletico are enjoying a good spell of possession at the moment, and of the two teams they have just about edged this first half so far. There isn't much to separate them, but Atletico have just about been the better side.
The crowd are putting more and more pressure on the referee for every decision now. The latest sees Koke just stand across the path of Courtois to prevent a quick counter, prompting whistles from the crowd who want a yellow card.
CHANCE! Courtois is called into action again here as Costa is slipped in down the left channel. The angle is against the Atletico striker, though, and Courtois makes another good save.
SHOT! A Real corner is only cleared as far as Carvajal, who takes a touch, waits for the ball to drop and then fires a speculative volley well wide of the target.
SAVE! Bale cuts inside and then puts his foot through it from all of 30 yards out. He puts plenty of power behind his effort and it bounces just in front of Oblak, who makes a comfortable save.
CHANCE! Almost a horror show for Oblak, but he reacts in such nonchalant fashion to atone for his error!
The Atletico keeper tries to pass the ball out but sees it blocked by Asensio. The ball is looping towards goal, but Oblak then just casually sticks out an arms to bring it back into his grasp.
The ball is fed into the feet of Bale just on the edge of the box, but he just can't take the ball in his stride as Koke steps in to win it.
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 0-0 ATLETICO MADRID
The first half comes to an end at the Bernabeu, then, and we are still goalless in what has been an even and closely-contest Madrid derby so far.
Atletico have probably just about had the better of things, but it is still finely poised and could go either way in the coming 45 minutes.
The best chance of the half fell to Antoine Griezmann, who raced clean through on goal after 18 minutes and really should have scored with only Courtois to beat.
However, the Frenchman always looked a little too relaxed and trip to chip it over the keeper with the outside of his left boot, when he might have been better off going round the keeper.
Diego Costa has also been denied by Courtois, while Real have created one big chance of their own at the other end when Bale latched on to a Kroos free kick before flashing his volley across goal and narrowly wide of the far post.
There has also been a decent chance for Benzema, but Gimenez made a big block to deny the striker on that occasion.
KICKOFF: Atletico get us back underway for the second half, and there is some big news to bring you as Gareth Bale has been withdrawn at the break to be replaced by Dani Ceballos.
CHANCE! Early chance for the hosts in this second half as the ball breaks into the path of Casemiro, but the Brazilian blazes his effort well over from the edge of the box. He should have done better there!
YELLOW CARD! Juanfran goes into the book for Atletico following a robust challenge.
SAVE! Oblak called into action again here as Asensio tries his luck from a tight angle, but it is fairly straightforward for Oblak.
The early reports suggest that Bale's withdrawal was because he felt a slight muscular problem during that first half.
Real win a free kick in a good crossing position and the anticipation starts to build in the Bernabeu, but Kroos's delivery is easily dealt with by Saul.
It is all a bit scrappy at the moment and lacking the telling moment of quality we expect from these two sides. The difference-makers have not done enough so far tonight for either side.
YELLOW CARD! Dancing feet from Ceballos before being brought down by Lemar, who goes into the book. Another Real Madrid free kick in a dangerous area...
SHOT! Casemiro takes the free kick, but he fires a poor strike well over the crossbar.
ATLETICO MADRID SUB: Change for the visitors as Angel Correa replaces Lemar.
Yet another free kick for Real Madrid in a good crossing position, this time as Rodri brings Carvajal down. The hosts need to make one of these count...
...yet again it is cleared away at the near post, though. Atletico are so organised back there.
SHOT! Ceballos cuts inside from the left before finding Modric, who lets fly from range but sees his effort zip wide of the target.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Real to take the lead, but Oblak comes to the rescue!
The ball is laid into the path of Asensio, who only has the keeper to beat from inside the area, but Oblak is immediately out there and makes himself big to pull off a vital stop.
ATLETICO MADRID SUB: Another change for Atletico as Costa is replaced by Thomas Partey.
YELLOW CARD! Koke is the latest name in the book for a challenge on Carvajal, who was writhing about on the floor until the card was produced.
We're into the final 20 minutes of this match now and, in truth, it is still yet to really catch fire. The defences are very much on top at the moment and neither side look particularly like scoring right now.
Chance for Real to break as Asensio charges down the right flank before trying to find Benzema, but Gimenez tracks back well to make up for Godin's initial error.
Here is that save from Oblak to deny Asensio in the biggest chance of the second half so far...
CHANCE! Better from Real as they work the ball well in and around the Atletico box. Modric eventually nudges the ball into the path of Carvajal, who sees his shot pushed away at the near post by Oblak.
Very nearly a chance for Atletico as first Correa sees his header blocked by Ramos before Griezmann tries to poke the ball into the path of Juanfran, only for Nacho to get a vital touch.
Worrying signs for Real Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo's name has just rung around the Bernabeu. The home fans are missing the five-time Ballon d'Or winner!
REAL MADRID SUB: A change from the hosts sees Lucas Vazquez replace Modric.
SHOT! It opens up for Luis to have a go from outside the area, but it is a really disappointing effort as he drags it well wide.
SAVE! Asensio wins a corner for Madrid and plays it short for Kroos, who cuts inside and tries to pick out the top corner with a curling effort similar to his goal at the World Cup. This time it is too close to the keeper, though, and Oblak makes the save.
ATLETICO MADRID SUB: A third and final change for Atletico as Rodrigo is replaced by Nikola Kalinic.
Shouts for a penalty from the Bernabeu faithful as Benzema goes to ground inside the area, but the referee is having none of it.
REAL MADRID SUB: A big moment for Vinicius Junior as he makes his Real Madrid debut, replacing Benzema.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this match.
YELLOW CARD! Nacho is the latest player in the book.
YELLOW CARD! Correa also picks up a late yellow for clipping the heels of Vinicius.
FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 0-0 ATLETICO MADRID
The final whistle goes at the Bernabeu, and in truth it was far from a classic Madrid derby. Real and Atletico play out a goalless draw, and neither really deserved much more from it either.
The big winners tonight are Barcelona, who remain top of the table despite dropping seven points from a possible nine in the space of a week.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as the Madrid derby ends all square. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
