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Real Madrid are hoping to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona while also aiming to defend a lengthy unbeaten home record against their fierce local rivals. Los Blancos have avoided defeat in each of their last 12 meetings (6 wins/6 draws) with Atlético Madrid at the Bernabéu.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone's men make the short trip across the Spanish capital on the back of four consecutive LaLiga wins. After recording a 5-2 victory in the reverse fixture between these two bitter foes, Atléti are looking to complete a league double over Real Madrid for the first time since the 2014/15 season.
Although they've shown immense attacking firepower, Real Madrid continue to harbour elements of defensive vulnerability. Los Blancos scored for the 60th time this season in Saturday's 4-1 thrashing of Elche, but have also conceded in each of their last five league outings.
With local bragging rights at stake, both sets of supporters will be hoping their star strikers are on form. LaLiga top scorer Kylian Mbappé returns to domestic action following a brief stint on the sidelines, while experienced frontman Antoine Griezmann has netted on ten previous occasions in this fixture.
Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid – Predictions
Real Madrid to win: 10/11 (bet365)
Over 8.5 Shots on Target: 1/2 (bet365)
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) – Yes: 4/7 (bet365)
Home comforts
Home advantage could prove decisive on Sunday night. Real Madrid have turned the Bernabéu into an almost impenetrable fortress this term, winning 12 of the 14 LaLiga contests staged here. With Kylian Mbappé back available, Álvaro Arbeloa's side will be confident they can add to the 33 goals they've already managed on home soil.
Atlético Madrid have recently struggled at the league's most intimidating venues. After losing 3-1 at the Camp Nou in early December, Los Colchoneros face the prospect of losing away to Barcelona and Real Madrid in the same season, something that has only occurred twice in the last 14 years.
Although Atlético convincingly won the first Madrid derby of the season, Real Madrid emerged triumphant when these two sides last met. January's Spanish Super Cup triumph in Saudi Arabia proved that Real could adjust their defensive system to nullify Atlético's counter-attacking approach. Could the same happen this weekend?
Prediction: Real Madrid to win: 10/11 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if Real Madrid win the match.
Plenty of goalmouth action?
Each of these sides possesses serious attacking quality, so it could be a busy night for both goalkeepers. Real Madrid have registered an eye-watering 190 shots on target across their 28 league fixtures, which equates to an average of 6.78 accurate attempts on goal per match.
Creativity will be provided by the likes of Federico Valverde and Arda Güler, who have amassed a combined total of 15 assists this season.
Atlético Madrid have also been clinical in the final third, partially thanks to the lethal partnership of Julián Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann.
With Atlético desperate to close the huge gap to defending champions Barcelona and remain in the title race, we can expect the visitors to plough forward at every opportunity.
Furthermore, this fixture often produces a high volume of efforts at goal. Jan Oblak stopped eight of Real Madrid's nine shots on target on his last visit to the Bernabéu, while there has been a series of high-scoring contests between these two old foes in recent years.
September's derby produced seven goals – will we see a similarly open match this time around?
Prediction: Over 8.5 Shots on Target: 1/2 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if there are more than eight shots on target in this match.
A familiar pattern.....
The stats suggest that both teams will find the net on Sunday night.
Real Madrid haven't conceded in more than five consecutive league matches since the 2021/22 campaign, but this could be about to change given their current defensive fragility.
This notion is further strengthened when you consider Atlético are currently enjoying a goalscoring purple patch, having netted eleven times since the beginning of the month.
The sides have shared a series of score draws in recent times, with four of their last six league meetings ending in a 1-1 stalemate.
With Real Madrid averaging 2.14 goals per game this term and Atlético in need of maximum points to resurrect their diminishing title hopes, it's likely both teams will find the net at some stage in the proceedings.
This prediction would have been successful if applied to any of the last ten meetings between Madrid's giants – it could easily happen again.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score – (BTTS) Yes: 4/7 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if both teams score during the match.
Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid – Match Result odds
Atlético Madrid: 13/5 (bet365)
Odds valid at the time of publication and subject to change.
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Odds valid at the time of publication and subject to change.