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Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid preview, team news and prediction

By Ritayan Chatterjee on September 22, 2023

Atletico Madrid will host in-form Real Madrid in La Liga at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday evening.

The Rojiblancos have had a mixed start in La Liga this season as they have won only half of their first four games but last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Valencia was a really disappointing result.

Atleti haven’t enjoyed a good start in the Champions League either as despite leading the game until deep into the stoppage time, they only managed to come away with a single point courtesy of Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel’s late equaliser.

So, Diego Simeone’s side will be coming into this game off the back of two poor results and they will be hoping that they will be able to return to winning ways by beating their City rival this weekend.

Summer reinforcements

Atletico Madrid haven’t spent much money in the summer window. They have signed Caglar Soyuncu and Cesar Azpilicueta to reinforce their defence but they both are free transfers.

Javi Galan and Santiago Mouriño have also been signed with the latter being sent out on a season-long loan to second-division Spanish side Real Zaragoza.

Previous meetings

This will be the 233rd meeting between these two Spanish giants and unsurprisingly, Real Madrid have been the dominant team in this fixture, winning 115 times compared to Atletico’s 57.

Los Colchoneros have won only once in the last 12 encounters over Los Blancos over the last few years. So, Diego Simeone’s side will be desperate to come up on top against their city rival on Sunday.

However, Real Madrid have started the season brilliantly, winning all five of their games in the league so Carlo Ancelotti’s side are full of confidence ahead of this encounter. Therefore, Atletico Madrid will find it extremely difficult to come away with all three points from this fixture.

Team News

Atletico Madrid have been struggling with a few injury issues at the moment. Thomas Lemar is set to remain sidelined for an extended period after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury, while midfield duo Koke and Rodrigo De Paul are also not in contention to feature due to injury issues.

New signing Caglar Soyuncu is expected to remain sidelined owing to a hip problem, while Memphis Depay is in doubt ahead of this encounter due to a muscular injury. Reinildo is currently sidelined for an extended period owing to a serious injury. Axel Witsel picked up a knock in the midweek game against Lazio so he is in doubt ahead of this weekend’s fixture.

As for Real Madrid, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois are set to miss out on this fixture due to injury issues, while Arda Guler isn’t in contention to feature either. Vinicius Jr has been struggling with injury problems so he is set to remain sidelined in this encounter as well.

Dani Carvajal was absent in the midweek game against Union Berlin due to an injury problem so he is in doubt ahead of this crucial fixture, though Ancelotti has said that he has a chance to be available this weekend.

How to watch

The game will commence at 8 pm UK time on Sunday evening and the match will be televised live on Viaplay UK, La Liga TV and Viaplay Sports 1.

If you want to watch all the action live in person, you can still buy Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid tickets at seatsnet.com. The game is sure to be an exciting one and is expected to be sold out, so don’t waste time and grab a ticket now if you want to be at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday.

Key players

Antoine Griezmann is the talismanic figure for Someone’s side and the responsibility will be on him to create chances for fellow attackers and even finish off opportunities when he gets one.

Alvaro Morata has started the season productively, scoring three goals in the first four league fixtures so Real Madrid will have to keep him quiet this weekend in order to come away with all three points.

Alongside them, Marcos Llorente has also enjoyed a promising start to this season so the Atletico Madrid fans will be hoping that he will be able to continue his excellent form in this encounter as well.

Simeone likes to play conservative football so Oblak might have to face quite a few shots and he will have to be at his very best in this encounter to help his side win versus the city rival.

As for Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham has already become an integral part of Los Blancos squad after joining the club this summer. He has been Ancelotti’s side’s main goal-scoring threat as he is currently the leading scorer in the Spanish top-flight.

Rodrygo is Real Madrid’s main attacking option amid Vinicius’ absence, but new summer signing Joselu has started the season promisingly. So, Atletico Madrid will have to stop him from scoring in this encounter.

Predicted line-up

Someone likes to take a conservative approach in big games such as this one and given, that Atletico Madrid are going through a tough period it is highly likely that the Argentinian boss will go with a defensive mindset in this fixture.

So, Los Rojiblancos are expected to go with a 5-3-2 formation this weekend with Jan Oblak set to be between the sticks. Azpilicueta, Stefan Savic and Mario Hermoso should be the three centre-backs, while Samuel Lino and Nahuel Molina could be the wing-backs.

Pablo Barrios, Llorente and Saul Niguez should be the midfield trio with Morata and Griezmann set to lead the line for Someone’s side on Sunday evening.

Atletico Madrid’s predicted line-up

Oblak; Molina, Azpilicueta, Savic, Hermoso, Lino; Llorente, Barrios, Saúl; Morata, Griezmann

As for Real Madrid, Ancelotti has been using the 4-3-1-2 diamond formation since the start of this season and it’s likely to be the same this weekend.

Kepa is set to continue in goal amid Courtois’ absence, while Vázquez, Rudiger, David Alaba and Fran Garcia should be the back four for Los Blancos.

Aurelien Tchouameni is expected to be the deep-lying playmaker and on either side of the Frenchman, Federico Valverde and Toni Kroos could commence in midfield. Bellingham will be in the attacking midfield position with Rodrygo and Joselu set to start in the centre-forward position.

Expected Real Madrid starting eleven

Kepa; Vázquez, Rudiger, Alaba, García; Tchouameni, Valverde, Kroos, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Joselu

Prediction

Real Madrid are coming into this game with several injury problems so Atlético Madrid had an opportunity to take advantage of that and win this fixture. But, they also have injury problems at the moment so Simeone doesn’t have the luxury of fielding his strongest eleven in this encounter.

So, Atletico Madrid may find it difficult to beat Los Blancos, especially given, Ancelotti’s side are currently full of confidence after winning all of their games so far this season.

But, Simeone’s side will be looking to return to winning ways and there are no better games than this one. In addition, they will be at home so they should take advantage of that and defeat Real Madrid. But, they might end up losing the game, Atletico Madrid 0-1 Real Madrid.

Atletico Madrid