Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid face off again in their 238th match against each other, with both teams fighting for the top spot in La Liga. Real Madrid, the current champions, are only one point ahead of their city foes as they prepare for an important match at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Carlo Ancelotti's team is eager to bounce back after a surprising 1-0 loss to Espanyol, a team at risk of being relegated. After the match, the club made a formal complaint about questionable referee calls.
That loss stopped a five-game winning streak for Los Blancos, and with important defensive injuries increasing, Ancelotti has a tough choice to make regarding player selection.
Antonio Rüdiger is not playing, which leaves Real Madrid with fewer defenders, as Éder Militão and David Alaba are also injured. Atlético is known for being tough and obedient, so Real's top attackers, like Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, will need to perform well in what is expected to be a close match.
Despite Ancelotti’s mixed record against Atlético (W8, D7, L8), Real Madrid have dominated this match at home in La Liga, avoiding defeat at the Bernabéu since February 2016 (W3, D5). They will feel confident from their strong performance at home, winning eight of their last nine league games at their famous stadium.
Atlético Madrid has started February strong, winning two games in a row. They won 2-0 against Mallorca in the league and then beat Getafe 5-0 in the Copa del Rey, showing how strong their offence is. Diego Simeone, who just had his 500th La Liga game as Atlético manager, will want to enjoy by winning a big match at the Bernabéu.
Recently, Los Colchoneros have had a tough time playing away from home, losing 1-0 to Leganés in their last away game. This was their second loss in five away games in La Liga (with three wins), which is worrying as they get ready to play their biggest foes. Nevertheless, Atlético’s recent revival has been led by Brazilian winger Samuel Lino, who has scored in three of their last four matches.
Atlético has not lost in the 12 games where Lino scored, with 11 wins and 1 draw. Another important matchup will include Vinícius Júnior, who has scored only one goal in 14 past Madrid derby games. With five assists in those matches, his skill in creating chances could be very important, especially if Atlético plays a strong defence.
Date and Start Time: The Spanish Laliga game will take place on Saturday, February 8, at exactly 9 PM West African Time.