Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction

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We have the Madrid derby taking place at the Bernabeu this weekend with both sides firmly involved in a tense and entertaining title race with one point separating the capital city giants.

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 8th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels

How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+

Real Madrid Preview: Los Blancos need to respond

Real Madrid suffered a defeat to struggling Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium in Catalonia last weekend due to an 85th minute winner scored by Carlos Romero. That has pegged them back in La Liga, ending a six-match unbeaten run of form in the league.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos backed that up with an underwhelming performance against Leganes in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey in midweek where they required a last-gasp Gonzalo Garcia winner to defeat their rival capital city minnows.

Atletico Madrid Preview: Diego’s difficult to beat Atleti

Atletico Madrid endured a tricky start to the campaign with far too many draws in their opening couple of months of the campaign but Diego Simeone reverted back to his tried and trusted 4-4-2 system that has seen them since propel themselves back into the title race.

Los Rojiblancos come into this one on the back of a 5-0 demolition of capital city rivals Getafe in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey in midweek to mean they are now unbeaten in five matches across all competitions since a surprise defeat to Leganes at Butarque last month.

Real Madrid Team News: Defensive injuries

David Alaba recently returned to full fitness but the Austria international is now unavailable for this weekend due to a groin injury alongside fellow defenders Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal. Kylian Mbappe is also a doubt for Madrid, too.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Tchouameni, Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia; Dani Ceballos, Fede Valverde; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe

Unavailable: Alaba (Injured), Militao (Injured), Rudiger (Injured), Dani Carvajal (Injured)

Questionable: Camavinga (Injured), Mbappe (Injured)

Atletico Madrid Team News: Le Normand suspended

Atletico have had a generally settled eleven for a few months but they will be without Spain international centre-back Robin Le Normand for this weekend due to suspension, whilst left-back Javi Galan is a doubt due to an ankle issue.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Jose Maria Gimenez, Lenglet, Reinildo; Giuliano Simeone, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Samuel Lino; Griezmann, Julian Alvarez

Unavailable: Le Normand (Suspended)

Questionable: Javi Galan (Injured)

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Prediction

Real Madrid haven’t been ‘good’ for pretty much the entirety of this season with Carlo Ancelotti still searching for the right system to get the best out of his stars such as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and the aforementioned Mbappe. They have found it tough against Atletico Madrid in the last couple of seasons with the visitors looking to be as solid as ever but also with a bit more quality when they are on the counter-attack, as they showed with their dramatic, last-gasp win against Barcelona before Christmas. Atletico have been very tough to beat and it would be good value to side with the visitors at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Tip: Double chance – Atletico Madrid to win or draw