Prediction: Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Unibet

With Madrid bragging rights up for grabs on Saturday night, Los Blancos will welcome their bitter rivals to the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano this weekend.

Real Madrid

Starting with the hosts, while Real Madrid might have only continued to show a host of issues both domestically and in Europe since opening the 2020/2021 campaign, Los Blancos should be boosted by an impressive week. Picking up a deserved 2-0 victory against German outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach last time out, Zinedine Zidane’s men managed to secure their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League as Group B winners. Now desperate to close the six-point buffer that their crosstown rivals hold over them at the top of the table, the Whites also shocked some across Spain as they clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Sevilla last weekend. Managing to partially bounce back from their shock back-to-back defeats at the hands of Alaves and Shakhtar Donetsk when opening December, Zidane will be calling on leading marksman Karim Benzema to spearhead their charge on Saturday night. Bagging both goals against Gladbach in midweek, the 32-year-old has recorded seven goals in as many appearances across all formats.

Team News

Along with Eden Hazard once again missing out this weekend, Real Madrid have confirmed that striker Luka Jovic is dealing with a muscular injury and will also sit Saturday’s derby out.

Elsewhere, also likely to be without Martin Odegaard, Los Blancos should be boosted by the news that Sergio Ramos has been given the green light to start.

Atletico Madrid

As for the visitors, picking up their own 2-0 victory while on Champions League duties earlier in the week, Atletico Madrid’s win away at Red Bull Salzburg saw Los Colchoneros also book their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s tournament. Continuing to impress many across Spain since opening the 2020/2021 campaign, Diego Simeone’s men have really capitalised on Barcelona’s and Los Blancos’ issues so far this season. With the mood in their camp at a red-hot high and making the trip across Madrid holding a one-point buffer at the top of the La Liga table, it is no surprise that many have billed Atletico as a genuine title challenger this year. Remarkably the only side in Spain’s top-tier who are yet to taste defeat in any of their opening 10 contests, Saturday’s guests have also continued to shine with their performances at the back. Recording another clean sheet out in Austria earlier in the week, Simeone’s men have conceded just a pair of La Liga goals so far this season.

Team News

Atletico have confirmed that the trio of Jose Gimenez, Diego Costa and Manu Sanchez are all still unavailable for selection this weekend.

Diego Simeone has no other injury issues or suspensions to worry about on Saturday.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last faced off back in March, Real Madrid picked up a 1-0 win on home soil.
• The last three meetings between Saturday’s opponents have seen just a single goal scored.
• Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in each of their opening 10 La Liga contests so far this season, conceding just two goals.
• Karim Benzema has scored seven goals in as many appearances across all formats.
• Continuing on from last season, six of Atletico’s last seven La Liga away fixtures have seen under 2.5 goals by the final whistle.

Conclusion

While Real Madrid might have managed to make a much-welcomed return to winning ways over the past week, there is no doubt that the defending Spanish champions face a stern test on Saturday night. With Atletico already firing their way to the top of the table and yet to taste defeat in any of their 10 top-flight contests so far this season, Diego Simeone’s men will be confident of causing an upset across the capital. Remarkably shipping just a pair of goals since opening the 2020/2021 campaign, it is worth noting that the two local rivals have a habit of producing cagey contests. With their last three straight meetings producing just a single goal at either end of the picth, we’re backing a similar low-scoring contest this weekend.

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Unibet