It’s a busy week from the Spanish La Liga, with games played in midweek before followers dive into the best the weekend has to offer. Saturday brings a four-game fixture list with the likes of Valencia and Barcelona on the schedule. But Sunday is where we focus our attention with another four mouth-watering games to look forward to. Our Spanish football content writer previews the top-of-the-bill clash between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, which is set for a 20:00 GMT start.
The Madrid Derby is always a fascinating affair, and Sunday’s return will live up to the hype. The rivals have met three times already this season in the La Liga, Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey. Atletico claimed a 3-1 home win in the league before Real Madrid fired back with a stunning 5-3 in the Super Cup. Then, Atletico returned to winning ways with a memorable 4-2 in the Copa del Rey. That puts this game on a knife-edge.
Blancos in the mix
Real Madrid started the week in the mix for the La Liga title, and they are the main challengers to current leaders and this term’s surprise package, Girona. Will the underdogs continue their winning ways to shock European football and lift the La Liga title against all the odds? Girona being crowned champions of Spain would be on par with Leicester City’s Premier League trophy success. It’s up to Real Madrid to spoil the party with a strong finish to the campaign.
Real Madrid’s recent form has been nothing short of amazing, and Blancos is playing like a team that believes they’ll reel Girona in and win the league. Madrid beat Las Palmas 2-1 on the road last weekend, and that result followed an eye-catching 3-2 win at home against Almeria. They haven’t been blowing teams away, but Real Madrid has been winning and adding points to strengthen their cause. There’s still all to play for this season, and we’re about to see the pressures rise.
Atletico back in the mix
Atletico Madrid fans may have hoped to see their team pushing hard for pole position and the La Liga title by the time they went across the city to visit their great rivals, but this campaign hasn’t gone according to plan. The visitors started the week in third place, with their stats for the season so far showing 14 wins, two draws, and five defeats, with 42 goals scored and 23 conceded. Their 44-point tally was ten behind their hosts and opponents and a further point off the pace set by Girona.
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Atletico knows they have a mountain to climb, but challenging for the prize isn’t impossible, especially if they can win at the home of their derby rivals and take three points from the title favourites. An away win on Sunday evening would blow the La Liga title race wide open, setting us up for a fascinating end to winter and start to spring. Atletico beat Valencia 2-0 at home last weekend, following a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey. They arrive with confidence and a belief they are good enough to win.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid prediction
Here we have a meeting of two teams who have played three times already this season, meaning there’s no need for a settling-in period. With the previous three games producing a total of 18 goals, armchair fans have every right to expect another fascinating 90 minutes with plenty of goals and even more talking points.
Atletico Madrid won two of those games, but those wins came on their patch. How will they handle going to the home stadium of their derby rivals, noisy neighbours, and La Liga betting favourites? We must wait to see, but if Real Madrid is at its best, it should have enough skill and experience to secure the home win.
La Liga odds
Which side of the fence do you sit on this Madrid derby? Will you support the home win or expect the visitors to add another victory and set the cat amongst the pigeons in La Liga? Fancy Real Madrid to win is priced at 1.72? That makes them the pre-match favourites. Atletico Madrid trades at 4.49, or you can take the derby day draw at 4.23.
In addition to the match-winner betting markets, 22Bet’s customers can gamble on several eye-catching specials, including both teams to score, handicap, and the first goalscorer in Sunday’s showdown. Browse the website or mobile site and find the betting markets that relate to your research.
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