The Madrid derby between Real and Atletico will see the two most popular bookies in La Liga meet for the first time this season. It is a battle for title meaning between the current leaders (Real Madrid) hosting the defending champions (Atletico Madrid).
Atletico need a positive result to keep the Colchoneros at bay and potentially spark an open race for first place. Another Real Madrid win would have virtually eliminated Atletico from the controversy, save for a second-half miracle.
Real Madrid (1.39 points) have won their last nine matches in all competitions and have enjoyed a solid first half of the season under Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach guided Los Merengues to 12 wins in their first 16 La Liga games and lost just one in that span against Espanyol. A key factor in that streak has been the play of Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr (10 goals), who is experiencing a breakthrough in his fourth season at the club and has played a part in deciding a that number of matches.
It has not been a smoother start to the season for Atletico (4th, 29 points), especially compared to the 2020-21 championship when they have 12 wins in 15 matches. This season, the record is 8W-2L-5D as the team struggles to achieve consistency. Reaching the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a thrilling victory earlier this week could help the team get back on track in La Liga, where they still have one game left to play against their opponents.
How to watch Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
- Day: Sunday, December 11
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Channel: n / a
- Spanish TV: n / a
- Streaming online: ESPN+
The first Madrid derby of the season is only available to stream on ESPN+ for fans in the United States.
La Liga is available on TSN and RDS in Canada. Sunday’s Madrid derby will be broadcast live in English on TSN.ca and the TSN app. Coverage in French can be found on RDS’ reciprocal channels (RDS.ca and RDS apps).
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Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Line-ups
The conversation between the two teams with Real Madrid revolved around La Liga goalscorer Karim Benzema (hamstring) and whether he started the game well off the bench. But Ancelotti has said he will play, and it is hard to see him using Benzema as a substitute if he is available, despite the recent positive contributions of his replacement Luka Jovic. The other question of the lineup concerns Marco Asensio and Rodrygo vying for it for the right wing position.
Real Madrid’s expected starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Thibaut Courtois-GK – 23-Ferlan Mendy, 4-David Alaba, 3-Eder Militao, 2-Dani Carvajal – 8-Toni Kroos, 14-Casemiro, 10-Luka Modric – 20-Vinicius Jr., 9-Karim Benzema (captain), 11-Marco Asensio
Real Madrid’s expected team (12): 13-Andriy Lunin (GK), 12-Marcelo (LB), 6-Nacho Fernandez (CB), 5-Jesus Vallejo (CB), 25-Eduardo Camavinga (CM), 15-Federico Valverde (CM), 22-Isco (CAM), 17-Lucas Vazquez (RW), 21-Rodrygo (RW), 7-Eden Hazard (LW), 24-Mariano Diaz (CF), 16-Luka Jovic (CF)
Spanish media are reporting that Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez will be available for the derby despite being sidelined midweek due to a muscle problem that left him in tears as he left the pitch. Matheus Cunha can start again if Suarez plays a few minutes.
Central defenders Stefan Savic, Jose Maria Gimenez and right-back Sime Vrsaljko are not at Atletico, but the Colchoneros can at least count on versatile defender Kieran Trippier, who will feature in the team.
Expected Atletico Madrid starting lineup (5-3-2, left to right): 13-Jan Oblak-GK (captain) – 21-Yannick Carrasco, 22-Mario Hermoso, 18-Felipe, 4-Geoffrey Kondogbia, 14-Marcos Llorente – 11-Thomas Lemar, 6-Koke, 5-Rodrigo De Paul – 8 -Antoine Griezmann, 19-Matheus Cunha
Expectations of Atletico Madrid (9): 1-Benjamin Lecomte (GK), 23-Kieran Trippier (RB/LB), 12-Renan Lodi (LB), 47-Ibrahima Camara (CB), 16-Hector Herrera (CM), 26-Javi Serrano (CM), 7-Joao Felix (CAM), 10-Angel Correa (FW), 9-Luis Suarez (FW)
Predictions and odds between Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
Odds by DraftKings
Fitness questions for star strikers Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) and Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid), and the fact that both teams have played competitive midweek Champions League matches will certainly affect how the game plays out. This match takes place.
THAN: How will the UEFA Champions League draw on Monday go?
Atletico Madrid are an exceptional team that relies on intensity and energy to achieve success, and the difficult and emotionally draining trip to Porto to win the Champions League has probably taken a lot. their stuff. But it’s a derby that Atletico can’t afford to lose, so the competitive momentum will be on Diego Simeone’s side.
The defending La Liga champions also have a record of playing away from home in La Liga this season (4W-1L-2D), with a positive xG difference (+3.1). They won xG in five of their seven top lane matches.
Although Real Madrid have won nine in a row in all competitions, they have had problems playing against teams like Atletico using a five-man defence: Real were held to a 1.0 xG draw at Inter. Milan in the win in midweek, as well as against Osasuna in a 0-0 draw at home. And it hasn’t won the xG battle in any of its three games against teams in a 5-3-2 formation, per FBref. This will be a match that Atletico Madrid can close, if not completely win.
Pick: Atletico Madrid +0.75 Asian handicap (-155)
Guess: Real Madrid 1, Atletico Madrid 1
- Moneyline (regulations): Real Madrid +180 / Draw +260 / Atletico Madrid +285
- Spread: Real Madrid -0.5 (+100) / Atletico Madrid +0.5 (-115)
- Total goals is O/U 2.5: Over -120/Under +100
- Both teams scored: Yes -155/No +115
