Prediction: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid

Verdict: Real Madrid double chance

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Luckster

With all eyes falling on the Spanish capital this weekend, Atletico Madrid will welcome Los Blancos to the Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday night.

Atletico Madrid

Starting with the hosts, suffering remarkable Champions League heartbreak away at Lazio earlier in the week, many will be wondering if Atletico Madrid show any signs of a hangover here. Eventually having to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at the Stadio Olimpico, Diego Simeone’s men have struggled to find much stability since returning from September’s international break. Marking their return from the fortnight interval with a woeful 3-0 drumming at the hands of Valencia, the former La Liga champions will be excited to make a return to the Spanish capital here. Last seen at the Metropolitano Stadium claiming a routine 3-1 win against Granada on August 14th, Atletico have now won each of their previous 10 straight top-flight appearances in front of their own supporters – a run that stems all the way back to a 1-1 draw against Getafe on February 4th.

Team News

All missing out away at Lazio earlier in the week, Atletico Madrid will once again be unable to call upon the likes of Memphis Depay, Thomas Lemar, Koke and Rodrigo de Paul. Only making a single appearance over the past month, former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta will be hoping for a recall on Sunday night.

While ex-Real Madrid star Alvaro Morata might have drawn back-to-back blanks since returning from September’s international break, the 30-year-old will spearhead Simeone’s charge here. Bagging his first senior strike away at Lazio in midweek, 20-year-old Pablo Barrios will keep his spot at the heart of Atletico’s midfield.

Real Madrid

As for the visitors, while Real Madrid might have not been at their best earlier in the week when opening their Champions League adventure, Los Blancos did snatch another remarkable late winner. Eventually edging past German outfit Union Berlin thanks to a 1-0 victory in the Spanish capital, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be desperate to lay down a title marker here. Returning from September’s international break with a second-half comeback on home soil as they snatched a 2-1 win against Real Sociedad, the mood in Madrid’s camp should be at a recent high. Along with opening the 2023/24 campaign with an eye-catching 2-0 victory away at Athletic Bilbao, the one-time AC Milan boss has seen his superstar squad win each of their first five La Liga appearances. Likewise, Los Blancos are the only top-flight outfit open this weekend’s fixtures boasting a 100% record.

Team News

Still dealing with a thigh injury and missing out on Real Madrid’s Champions League opener earlier in the week, attacking talisman Vinicius Junior is once again a major doubt. The Brazilian superstar will be joined on the sidelines by the likes of Eder Militao, Daniel Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois.

Bagging that last-gasp winner against Union Berlin in midweek and now notching seven goals in his previous eight appearances for club and country, the red-hot Jude Bellingham will once again have a key role to play on Sunday night.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met back on February 25th, Atletico Madrid and Los Blancos played out a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.
• Ancelotti’s side have suffered just a single La Liga defeat from their last 14 meetings against Sunday’s hosts – a run that stems all the way back to February 2016.
• However, Atletico have won each of their last 10 straight La Liga appearances at the Metropolitano Stadium.
• Including their 1-0 victory against Union Berlin earlier in the week, Real Madrid have won each of their opening six appearances across all competitions.
• England international Jude Bellingham has bagged seven goals in his previous eight appearances for club and country.

Conclusion

Managing to open their Champions League adventure with a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home against Union Berlin in midweek, Real Madrid will be desperate to extend on their recent flurry here. Winning each of their opening five La Liga appearances and the only top-flight side that can boast a 100% start to the 2023/24 campaign, Los Blancos should also be excited by an eye-catching record against their bitter local rivals. Despite having to settle for a 1-1 stalemate when they welcomed Atletico to the Bernabeu back on February 25th, Ancelotti’s men have suffered just a single defeat from their previous 14 straight La Liga meetings.

Verdict: Real Madrid double chance

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Luckster