Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid
Venue: Vencente Caldron
Kick off: 7:30pm
Two of La Liga’s fiercest rivals meet for the first time this season as Real Madrid make the short journey to the Vicente Calderon to face Atletico Madrid on Sunday (today).
Both teams were considered title contenders ahead of the start of the 2015-16 campaign, but both dropped points last time out in the Spanish top flight.
It has been a difficult week for Diego Simeone’s side, with Atletico suffering a 1-0 defeat to Villarreal last weekend, before letting a lead slip in a 2-1 loss to Benfica in the Champions League this week.
Atletico had been showing signs of returning to the kind of form that won them the La Liga title in the 2013-14 season, winning four of their first five fixtures in the league.
Last weekend’s loss leaves the team fifth in the table, four points behind league leaders, Villarreal, and two points behind this weekend’s opponents.
The arrival of Colombian striker, Jackson Martinez, from Porto over the summer would have excited Atletico fans, but the 28-year-old has been unable to replicate the form that caught the Spanish side’s eye, scoring just once in eight appearances for the team so far this season.
Atletico have been unable to match the goal-scoring prowess of the sides above them in the table in their opening six fixtures, scoring nine goals so far.
However, their loss to the leaders last weekend was the first fixture that they have failed to score in.
Today’s hosts do have one of the best defensive records in the Spanish top flight though, with four clean sheets so far – only Real Madrid have kept the opposition out more often.
Real Madrid dropped points for the second time this season last weekend, having been held to a goalless draw by 10-man Malaga at the Bernabeu, leaving them two points off the top of the table and a point behind reigning champions Barcelona.
Rafael Benitez’s side are still unbeaten still this season though and got back to winning ways in the Champions League, securing a 2-0 win over Swedish side Malmo on Wednesday, thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup: Oblak, Godin, Luis, Games, Gimenez, Tiago, Oliver, Gabi, Niguez, Griezmann, Torres.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Navas, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.
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