La Liga’s title race is shaping up to be the most exciting in years, and the upcoming Madrid Derby could be a defining moment. On Saturday, Santiago Bernabéu will set the stage for one of the most high-stakes clashes in Madrid derby history, with just a single point separating league leaders Real Madrid from second-placed Atletico.
Both Real Madrid and Atletico had a sluggish start to the 2024/25 season, with Barcelona initially setting the pace. But as the campaign has unfolded, the Madrid rivals have hit their stride. Atletico, in particular, have looked like the real deal. A humbling 3-1 defeat to Lille in the Champions League back in October seemed to serve as a wake-up call for Diego Simeone’s side. Since then, they’ve been on an absolute tear – winning 21 of their last 23 games and losing just once. This incredible run has propelled them right into the title race, leaving them just a single point behind leaders Real Madrid. Now, with a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu on the horizon, Simeone’s men have a golden opportunity to take control of the title race.
However, getting a win over Real at Santiago Bernabeu will be a daunting task. In fact, Atletico Madrid haven’t tasted victory at Santiago Bernabéu in their last ten visits – a frustrating streak that dates back to 2016. That history suggests the odds are firmly stacked in Real Madrid’s favor. However, recent performances have given Los Blancos fans plenty to worry about. A shock defeat to 17th-placed Espanyol in La Liga and a nervy Copa del Rey quarterfinal win over Leganés -- secured only by a stoppage-time goal – have raised concerns about their form. That said, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been largely dominant since the turn of the year, winning nine of their last 11 matches. A win over Atletico wouldn’t just break their rival’s momentum – it would also solidify Real’s grip on another La Liga crown.
Date: 9th February 2025
Time: 1:30 AM (IST)
Stadium: Santiago Bernebeu
Location: Madrid, Spain
Courtois; Vazquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann.
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak (Atleti)
Defenders: Marcos Llorente (Atleti), Lucas Vazquez (Real), Raul Asencio (Real)
Midfieders: Jude Bellingham (Real), Federico Valverde (Real), Rodrigo De Paul (Atleti), Giuliano Simeone (Atleti)
Forwards: Vinicius Junior (Real), Julian Alvarez (Atleti), Kylian Mbappe (Real)
Choice 1: Vinicius Junior (C), Kylian Mbappe (VC)
Choice 2: Federico Valverde (C), Julian Alvarez (VC)
The author has provided you with the above-mentioned match prediction on the basis of his research, understanding, and analysis, consider the points and make your own decision.
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