Saturday’s Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid could determine the leader of La Liga, as both teams are separated by just one point. The match takes place at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu. Amidst an injury crisis, Real Madrid needs to strike a balance between a strong team for this derby and their upcoming Champions League match against Manchester City.
Key players like David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao are sidelined due to injuries. As a result, academy products Raul Asencio and Aurelien Tchouameni are stepping up as central defenders. Coach Carlo Ancelotti knows he cannot afford more injuries as his squad is already stretched.
“It’s a very important match for two teams fighting to win the league. The (Madrid) derby is a special match, as always. Atlético are strong and it’ll be an even match,” said Ancelotti in his pre-game press conference.
Predicted Lineups
- Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Brahim Diaz, Kylian Mbappe.
- Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak, Javi Galan, Clement Lenglet, Jose Gimenez, Nahuel Molina, Conor Gallagher, Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo De Paul, Giuliano Simione, Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann.
When and Where to Watch
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 8
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Real Madrid -110; Draw +270; Atletico Madrid +280
Given the stakes, this match is sure to be a thrilling contest!
