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 are currently leading the way in the La Liga table, but they are only one point clear of second-placed Atletico, with Diego Simeone's side firmly in the title picture with 18 games left.
Match preview
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It would be fair to say that Real Madrid have not yet fully clicked this season, but Carlo Ancelotti's side are top of the La Liga table, into the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and preparing for a Champions League playoff tie against Manchester City.
A spot in the final four of the cup was secured on Wednesday evening courtesy of a 3-2 success over Leganes, with Gonzalo Garcia's first goal for the club earning a last-gasp victory for Ancelotti's side, who are preparing to head to Man City next week for the first leg of their Champions League playoff fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
Los Blancos cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in La Liga, though, especially as they were stunned last weekend, losing 1-0 to struggling Espanyol, with the capital giants now only one point clear of second-placed Atletico at the summit.
There are only four points between third-placed Barcelona and division leaders Real Madrid in what is a fascinating title race, and Los Blancos have already suffered a huge home loss to a title rival this term, conceding four to Barcelona back in October.
The last two league meetings between Real Madrid and Atletico have finished 1-1, including at Wanda Metropolitano back in September, while that was also the score in their league contest at Bernabeu last season.
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Not too many had Atletico down as genuine contenders for the La Liga title this season, but it has been an excellent campaign to date for the Red and Whites, who are through to the knockout round of the Champions League and also in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Simeone's side thumped Getafe 5-0 on Tuesday night to book a last-four spot in the cup, while they were 2-0 winners over Mallorca last weekend to move onto 48 La Liga points, boasting a record of 14 wins, six draws and two defeats from 22 matches.
Atletico have picked up 18 points on their travels this season, and they will be coming up against a Real Madrid side that have won nine of their 10 league matches at Bernabeu during the 2024-25 campaign.
The Red and Whites have won the La Liga title on 11 occasions, with their last success coming in 2020-21, and these are the type of matches that they must not lose in order to be viewed as potential title winners.
Atletico are actually unbeaten in their last four league matches with Real Madrid and have lost just one of their last six, although Simeone's side have not managed to win a La Liga fixture at Bernabeu since February 2016.
Team News
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Real Madrid are expecting to have Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Lucas Vazquez and Eduardo Camavinga available for the Madrid derby, which would be a much-needed fitness boost for the club.
Mbappe, Bellingham and Vazquez missed out against Leganes due to minor issues, while Camavinga was not ready to return from a hamstring problem, but Ancelotti has suggested that all four will feature this weekend.
Antonio Rudiger will be missing for at least the next couple of weeks due to a thigh issue, while Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are long-term absentees for the club due to serious knee injuries.
David Alaba is now available after more than a year out with a knee problem, but it is expected to be Aurelien Tchouameni and Raul Asencio in the middle of the Real Madrid defence for the Madrid derby.
As for Atletico, Robin Le Normand is out of the match through suspension, but the visitors are otherwise in excellent shape, with Pablo Barrios back training with the group after a recent issue.
Alexander Sorloth has scored 11 times for Atletico this season, but he is expected to start on the bench on Saturday, with Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez, who have 15 and 16 goals respectively in 2024-25, featuring as the front two.
There will be changes from the side that started in the Copa del Rey last time out, with Jan Oblak back between the sticks, while Clement Lenglet, Marcos Llorente and Conor Gallagher should also be introduced into the XI at Bernabeu.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann
We say: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid
This is such a difficult match to call, and we have had to settle on a 1-1 draw, which has been the scoreline in three of the last four league meetings between the two sides, including the last two at Bernabeu. Real Madrid have home advantage, but this is a serious Atletico outfit, and we are finding it tough to predict a loss for Simeone's side on Saturday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
