Frank Christian
This Sunday, an electrifying football rivalry lights up the Madrid derby, with Atletico Madrid welcoming their neighbors, Real Madrid, to the Wanda Metropolitano.
Both teams are competing at the top of the La Liga standings. However, some recent missteps have allowed Barcelona to take the lead, leaving both clubs with little room for error as they avoid falling further behind.
Real Madrid has found its rhythm lately, recently securing a tense 3-2 victory over Alaves, thanks to standout performances from Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo. Mbappe, in particular, has been impressive, showing his true capabilities after a shaky start at his new club.
Unfortunately, Mbappe suffered an injury during the match and may be out for up to three weeks.
Real Madrid also enjoys a slight advantage with additional rest, as Atletico recently faced Celta Vigo on Thursday, where they won 1-0, climbing to third place in the table.
Julian Alvarez secured a last-minute winner in that match, strengthening his case for more playing time in the upcoming derby.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid: Team News and Predicted Lineups
Atletico Madrid began the season in top shape but now faces a setback with the absence of captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who is sidelined due to a muscle injury for several weeks.
Rodrigo de Paul is recovering from an injury but came on as a substitute against Celta and could return to the starting lineup for the derby.
Key players Antoine Griezmann and Robin Le Normand are also back in contention following their recent rest.
Predicted Atletico Madrid Starting XI (5-3-2): Oblak (GK) — Molina, Le Normand, Witsel, Reinildo, Lino — De Paul, Koke, Gallagher — Griezmann, Alvarez.
Injuries: Azpilicueta, Barrios, Lemar
Suspensions: None
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, was close to full squad availability before the injury to Mbappe was confirmed.
Mbappe’s leg injury in the Alaves match means he will be unavailable for this derby and several other upcoming games. Either Endrick or Arda Guler is expected to take his place.
The only other uncertainty for Real is midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who has a muscle issue but is on track for a return, alongside Dani Carvajal.
Antonio Rudiger has regained fitness and started against Alaves, eliminating the need for Aurelien Tchouameni to fill in defensively.
Only David Alaba remains out due to recovery from an ACL tear, along with squad members Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz, who are also injured.
Predicted Real Madrid Starting XI (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Rudiger, Militao, Mendy — Valverde, Bellingham, Tchouameni — Rodrygo, Endrick, Vinicius.
Injuries: Mbappe, Alaba, Diaz, Ceballos
Suspensions: None
How to Watch Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid
Here’s how to catch this La Liga matchup across different regions around the world:
| TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | ESPN Deportes | Fubo USA, ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | TSN+ |
| UK | ITV4, Premier Sports 1 | LaLigaTV, ITVX |
| Australia | beIN Sports 3 | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | — | GXR World |
