Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid predictions and match preview for Saturday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups ahead of the big Madrid derby.
| Date | Saturday 25th February 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 18:30 (CET) |
| Stadium | Santiago Bernabeu |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Preview
It’s derby day in Madrid on Saturday with Los Blancos hosting Atleti for the second time already in 2023. Carlo Ancelotti’s side needed Extra Time to see off their rivals in the Copa del Rey in January and they’ll be favourites to record another win here.
This match comes at a vital point in Real Madrid’s season, sandwiched in between the 1st Legs of their Champions League Last 16 tie against Liverpool and Semi-Final clash with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. You can add a tough trip to Real Betis next weekend to that and we should have a clearer picture of how their season is shaping up by next Sunday evening.
If there were any doubts about the quality of this Real Madrid side, they were dispelled in blistering fashion at Anfield in midweek as Los Blancos scored 5 unanswered goals to seal a convincing comeback win over Liverpool. Another UCL Quarter-Final surely now awaits but it’s vital they win here too with an 8-point deficit to make up on Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.
Atletico Madrid meanwhile have no cup distractions to worry about and can afford to focus solely on the task of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. They are 4th currently, 4 points above Betis, so this is not really a huge pressure game but they’d dearly love a derby win to lift some of the gloom in what has not been a good season for Los Rojiblancos.
It’s possible this will be Diego Simeone’s final Madrid derby. He has overseen some fine Atleti wins on this ground and is largely responsible for changing the whole dynamic of this rivalry which was very one-sided before he rocked up at the Vicente Calderon over a decade ago. However Atleti have been beaten to nil on their last 3 league visits here and it’s just 1 Madrid derby win in LaLiga since the 2015/16 season for Atletico and that came against a weakened Real Madrid side last term.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Real Madrid
| INJURED | Mendy, Alaba, Rodrygo |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Courtois – Nacho, Rudiger, Militao, Carvajal – Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos – Vini, Benzema, Valverde (4-3-3)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Atletico Madrid
| INJURED | Reguilon, De Paul |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Oblak – Reinildo, Hermoso, Gimenez, Molina – Saul, Koke, Barrios – Griezmann, Morata, Llorente (4-3-3)
Coach: Diego Simeone
Score Prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Antoine Griezmann aside, Atletico Madrid are not offering much of a goal threat this season and you have to wonder where they’d be without the Frenchman who is producing some of his best football again. It’s hard to fancy them here against a Real Madrid side that has to be feeling confident after their 5-star showing in midweek.
PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga previews and predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
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