Real Madrid will be aiming to celebrate their La Liga title triumph with a victory over neighbours Atletico Madrid in the derby this weekend.
Real Madrid will look to build on their recent winning momentum when they make the short trip across town to take on local rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.
Real Madrid clinched the La Liga title last weekend when they thrashed Espanyol 4-0 at home. It was followed by one of the most stirring comebacks in recent memories in the UEFA Champions League as Los Blancos snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat to send Manchester City packing and book a place in the final of the competition.
Even though the title is wrapped up and they have a final to play later this month, Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to make a lot of tweaks to his best lineup as he will be keen on doing the double over Los Blancos’ local rivals, having beaten them 2-0 in the reverse fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, are coming into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Athletic Club in La Liga. They have won just one of their last four league matches (D1 L2), which has put them in a precarious position in the top-four race. Diego Simeone’s side are only three points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis and will need to correct their course sooner rather than later to ensure a top-four finish.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
? Simeone
"We are at a decisive moment in the season where we have four finals left". pic.twitter.com/VEEoO74aKm
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 7, 2022
Atletico Madrid will have to make do without star forward Joao Felix, who is out with a hamstring injury, while Thomas Lemar is also set to miss out. Mario Hermoso is also ruled out of the contest as he serves out his suspension.
But, in some positives, Reinildo Mandava will be available for selection after his appeal to overturn a booking in the last game was successful while Stefan Savic will also return after missing the clash against Athletic Club due to suspension.
Diego Simeone is expected to line his team up with a lone centre-forward while shoring up the middle of the park to stop Real Madrid from settling into a rhythm. With Joao Felix injured, Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez not in the best of form, Matheus Cunha could be in for a rare start up top for the home team.
The Brazilian will have attacking support from the wide players in Yannick Carrasco and Angel Correa, who will return to the lineup, after sitting out against Athletic. Marcos Llorente will occupy a central role and look to provide the forward thrust while Koke and Geoffrey Kondogbia hold down the fort in the middle of the park.
The returning Savic should pair up with Jose Maria Gimenez at the heart of the Atletico Madrid defence, while Sime Vrsaljko and Mandava occupy the full-back slots. Jan Oblak would be the man lining up between the sticks for the home team.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Gimenez, Mandava; Correa, Llorente, Kondogbia, Koke, Carrasco; Cunha
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be without Eden Hazard, David Alaba, Isco, Dani Ceballos, Gareth Bale, and Marcelo for the trip to the Wanda Metropolitano, with the sextet sidelined due to injury issues. Carlo Ancelotti has also confirmed that he will be resting Thibaut Courtois for the game, which means Andriy Lunin is set to start in goal on Sunday night.
? @MrAncelotti: "The team are in good shape."#AtletiRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/bMaeDM0vAe
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) May 7, 2022
Guarding the Ukrainian international between the sticks should be the backline consisting of Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez as the centre-backs. Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy should occupy the full-back slots for the newly-crowned champions.
Luka Modric and Casemiro were taken off early in the last game against Manchester City and should make the starting XI on Sunday night. However, Toni Kroos, whose form has been on a slow decline, should make way for Eduardo Camavinga, who was mighty impressive after coming on in the Champions League clash.
Another player who was key to changing the course of the game against the Cityzens was Rodrygo Goes and is deserving of a starting spot in the derby. The Brazilian ought to replace Federico Valverde on the right flank while Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior make up the rest of the attack for Real Madrid against Atleti.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have not lost any of their last eight matches against Atletico Madrid across all competitions (W4 D4).
- Atletico Madrid have lost two home games in La Liga this season (W11 D4), the most league defeats they have faced in their own backyard in a single campaign since 2016/17 (W14 D2 L3).
- Real Madrid have won their last five La Liga matches away from home. The Merengues have netted three goals in three of those five fixtures.
- Atletico Madrid have lost three of their previous 11 derby encounters against Madrilenian teams in La Liga (W6 D2).
- Karim Benzema has scored three goals in his last four La Liga games against Atletico Madrid, finding the back of the net in his previous two appearances versus the Rojiblancos.
Player to Watch
Rodrygo Goes
Remember the name.@RodrygoGoes ?⚡️ pic.twitter.com/OCNtU9JZJU
— Players' Tribune Football (@TPTFootball) May 5, 2022
The 21-year-old should be included in the starting XI on Sunday after his exploits over the past week. Rodrygo bagged a crucial double against Espanyol last weekend to help Real Madrid clinch the La Liga title. Unlucky not to start against Manchester City, he came on as a substitute and changed the complexion of the game with a scintillating brace in the gap of a minute to help his team stage a comeback.
With six goals and an assist in his last six matches across all competitions, Rodrygo is one of the most in-form players for Real Madrid currently. And he will be hoping to be the difference-maker for the Spanish champions when they face off against their local rivals in the derby this weekend.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 1-3 Real Madrid
With just one win in their last six games across competitions, Atletico Madrid are not in the best moment currently. And they will be up against a Real Madrid side full of confidence after their La Liga triumph, that was followed by a stunning comeback against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
Atletico Madrid are also missing their best attacking threat in Joao Felix, whereas Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo are firing on all cylinders for Real. Considering these factors, The Hard Tackle predicts a victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s men at the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday night.
