The highly-anticipated Madrid derby is set to kick off at the stunning Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday evening, as Atletico Madrid play host to Real Madrid in La Liga.
Atletico currently sit in third place in the La Liga standings with 15 points from their first seven matches, while Real Madrid are in second place with 17 points, trailing leaders Barcelona by four points.
The Red and Whites have been solid at the back this season, boasting the best defensive record in La Liga with only three goals conceded. They have kept clean sheets in five of their last six league matches.
Although Atletico were held to a 1-1 draw by Rayo Vallecano last weekend, they bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo thanks to Julian Alvarez’s late goal. The team has now won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
Atletico will be well aware of the challenge that Real Madrid presents, but they will take confidence from their last La Liga meeting in September 2023, where they emerged as 3-1 winners at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, are on a 39-match unbeaten run in La Liga, inching closer to Barcelona’s all-time record of 43 games from the 2017-18 season. Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s team is in fine form, with five straight wins in all competitions, including a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart in their Champions League opener.
The upcoming clash with Atletico marks the start of a challenging period for Real Madrid, with three matches before the October international break. They will face Villarreal and Atletico in La Liga, sandwiched between a Champions League fixture against Lille in France.
Real Madrid have historically dominated matches against Atletico, winning 116 of their previous 236 encounters. However, Atletico have enjoyed success in recent battles against their city rivals.
All eyes will be on the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday night as two of Spain’s top teams go head-to-head in what promises to be a thrilling Madrid derby.
