Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Preview, Live stream & TV channel info, Team News, Prediction, Betting odds

The previous meeting between the two teams was in the Champions League quarterfinals last season

The new season of La Liga enters its 7th Gameweek and two of the biggest clubs in Madrid are ready to face each other on Sunday in a Madrid Derby match. This is the first time both teams will be facing each other in the league this season.

Ahead of this blockbuster fixture, the Galacticos clinched an away 2-0 victory over Malmo in the midweek while their cross-town rivals suffered a disappointing defeat to Benfica at home. All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, who has surpassed 500 career goals in midweek and has become Los Blancos’ all-time leading goalscorer.

Although, Atletico Madrid got the better off their rivals last season on both occasions, Rafa Benitez's men are in sublime form and they will be hoping to counter their opponent's recent lacklustre form.

Kick Off and Live Telecast

Channel: Sony Six HD

Live Stream: LiveSoccerTV

Date and Time: Monday, 5th October 2015 – 00:00 IST

Venue: Vicente Calderon, Madrid

Team News

Atletico Madrid

There’s good news for the home fans this weekend as their midfielder, Koke is reported to be back in training after he picked up a muscle strain in their win over Eibar earlier this season. Diego Simeone will be cautious with his decision to not start the Spanish international, as he is declared not to be 100% fit for the match.

The Atletico Madrid boss has rotated both his strikers Jackson Martinez and Fernando Torres on several occasion this season, and with the Columbian struggling for goals, the club manager could prefer picking the former Chelsea and Liverpool striker over Martinez - having feature off the bench in their midweek UCL clash against Benfica.

Real Madrid

Gareth Bale is set to make his return after two weeks and could be named on Rafa’s team sheet. The Welsh international has been back in training this week and he has also been included in Coleman’s latest Wales squad.

The club captain, on the other hand, is also believed to be back in training this week, having picked up a shoulder injury earlier this season. However, Danilo, Pepe and Rodriguez all remain doubts for the derby clash.

Form

Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone and his men have suffered a disappointing defeat to Villareal last weekend, followed up by a 2-1 loss to Benfica at home in their Champions League fixture this week. It has been a difficult week for the Madrid outfit who showed signs of returning to the kind of form they showed in their La Liga title-winning season in 2013/14, in their first five fixtures in the league.

They are currently fifth in the table, just four points behind league leaders Villareal and two points behind this weekend’s opponents. The home side boasts one of the best defensive records in the Spanish top flight with four clean sheets so far. Only their opponents Real Madrid have kept the opposition out more often.

Last 5 games: W-W-W-L-L (Most recent: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Benfica)

Real Madrid

Rafa Benitez’s side are still unbeaten this season despite dropping points for the second time last weekend against Malaga at the Bernabeu. The Los Blancos are just two points off the top of the table and a point behind the reigning champions Barcelona.

Ahead of this exciting fixture, all eyes will be on Ronaldo who went past the 500-goal mark in his career during the midweek match against Malmo. Although the Portuguese forward has 10 goals in all competitions for Real this season, he has scored in just one league game this season.

The Los Blancos have the league’s best defensive record, having conceded just a single goal so far along with five clean sheets.

Last 5 games: W-W-W-D-W (Most recent: Malmo 0-2 Real Madrid)

Key Stats

Head-to-Head

Real Madrid have beaten Atletico Madrid just once in their last 6 meetings.
Atletico Madrid are undefeated in 35 of their last 38 home games in the league.
Real Madrid are undefeated in their last 16 matches in La Liga.
Real Madrid have kept 7 clean sheets in 8 games (Home & Away) this season.
Atletico Madrid have kept 6 clean sheets in their last 8 home games.

??Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid have lost 2 out of their 6 games in La Liga (W4)
Antoine Griezmann is the club’s leading goalscorer so far this season with 3 goals.
Atletico have only lost one of their last eight games against Real Madrid in all competitions (W4 D3), the most recent one (1-0 in the Champions League).

Real Madrid

Real Madrid are yet to be defeated this season, registering 6 wins out of 8 matches in all competitions.
Real Madrid have not been able to win in their last five visits to Vicente Calderón in all competitions (D2 L3).
If Real Madrid fail to win this match, they will equal their worst ever winless streak in the venue (between 1956-63).

Probable line-ups

Atletico Madrid (4-3-3):

Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Luis, O. Torres, Gabi, Tiago, Griezmann, Niguez, F. Torres

Real Madrid (4-3-3):

Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Modric, Kroos, Isco, Jese, Benzema, Ronaldo

Key Battles

Gabi vs Isco

We have seen it many times in the past so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Simeone and his men get physical with the high-flying Los Blancos side. The key battles will be fought in midfield, where Gabi will be looking to stop the in-form Isco who has been constantly on the team sheet since Rodriguez’s injury.

The Atletico skipper, who has so much of experience in his bag, has the ability to breakdown attacking moves from the opposition and is quick at converting defence into attack with his precise passing skills and vision. Isco, as usual, will play a key role in creating chances for the Madrid forwards with help from Kroos and Modric.

Gabi and his fellow midfielders are up for a good competition in the middle of the park, where the game could be decided and won by either sides.

Godin vs Ronaldo

All of Madrid’s attacking threats will come from the one and only Ronaldo, who has been in sublime form lately. No doubt the Portuguese forward will be closely marked by the Uruguayan defender Godin, who has not been at this best lately.

However, Atletico still has one of the best defensive records in the league and their stubborn defense could only possibly be broken by Ronaldo, who will be looking to increase his goalscoring tally in the league this season.

Prediction

Atletico Madrid 1-3 Real Madrid

Judging by the recent form, Los Blancos will go into this game as the clear favourites to win but their recent visits to Vincente Calderon hasn't been great. A win for the away team should help them closen the gap on the league leaders, Villareal.

The home side's defending should make it a close match, although they do not have the same weapons up front as their rivals.