Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Predicted XIs, Live Stream, TV Info

El Derbi madrileno. The Madrid derby.

The never-ending derby.

The latter is how Marca described this capital battle last season, neatly encapsulating what this derby is, what it's become. Last term, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid tussled a scarcely believable eight times across four competitions in a single campaign, their two-season tally reaching 13. For two teams that didn't at all like each other beforehand, it's become the equivalent of handing each a sponge and asking them to share a daylong bath. 

Now, it's here again. Yes, again.

Tellingly, these meetings in recent years have not only shaped the derby's modern complexion but also entire seasons. In 2012-13, Atletico defeated Real to win the Copa del Rey; in 2013-14, Real defeated Atletico to clinch the European Cup. In 2014-15, Atletico pinched away the Spanish Super Cup from Real, knocked their neighbours out of the Copa del Rey and dealt hammer blows to Los Blancos' league campaign, while Real put an end to Atletico's progress in the Champions League. 

Epic, you might say. This derby has been shaping football in both Spain and Europe. And the teams aren't growing any fonder of each other. 

"We know it's Atleti's game of the year on Sunday," said Alvaro Arbeloa this week, his message a condescending one, the suggestion being that these derbies are all Atleti has to play for.

"You can tell he hasn't seen us play much," Atletico captain Gabi responded, with more than a little justification. 

Indeed, this is a battle that's been flipped on its head. For 14 years between 1999 and 2013, the men in red and white didn't win once against Real. At the Bernabeu in 2011, a sign read: "Wanted: A worthy rival for a decent derby." Well, they have one now: Since that victory in the 2013 final of the Copa del Rey, Atleti's record in the derby reads five wins, fours draws and only four losses. Last season alone it read four, three and one.

What's more, Atletico are now genuine rivals on all fronts. Contenders.

Gabi, then, is right: Arbeloa mustn't have been watching. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Yet, for all the recent history between these teams, it's hard to work out who has the upper hand ahead of Sunday's meeting. Both of these teams right now are evolving outfits—Atleti undergoing a change in style; Real still navigating a change in leadership. 

Two weeks ago, things were going nicely for Diego Simeone's new-look Atletico. Four wins from five in the league, Sevilla conquered, only Barcelona in the losses column, Los Colchoneros looked to be flying, the club's best-ever squad thriving. Since: Consecutive losses to Villarreal and Benfica. 

"The first 10 games of the season were always going to be complicated," said Simeone, per AS. 

For Real Madrid, getting a handle on where they're at is just as difficult. From a purely numbers perspective, it looks rosy: six wins, two draws, 20 goals scored and just one conceded. But amongst that have been some laboured performances, and the opponents have hardly been fearsome: Sporting Gijon, Real Betis, Espanyol, Shakhtar Donetsk, Granada, Athletic Bilbao, Malaga and Malmo. 

Complicating judgments further has been a plethora of injuries. 

So what do we make of these teams? Their style? Their form?

What do we make of the new season?

Frankly, it's hard to know. But El Derbi madrileno, the Madrid derby, the never-ending derby—it has a habit of telling us. 

Match Details

Date: Sunday, October 4

Time: 7:30 p.m. BST / 2:30 p.m. EDT / 8:30 p.m. local

Venue: Vicente Calderon, Madrid, Spain

TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)

Form Lines

Atletico Madrid	Real Madrid
L: 1-2 vs. Benfica	W: 2-0 vs. Malmo
L: 0-1 vs. Villarreal	D: 0-0 vs. Malaga
W: 2-0 vs. Getafe	W: 2-1 vs. Athletic Bilbao
W: 2-0 vs. Eibar	W: 1-0 vs. Granada
W: 2-0 vs. Galatasaray	W: 4-0 vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
L: 1-2 vs. Barcelona	W: 6-0 vs. Espanyol

Team News

For Atletico Madrid, the only player unavailable to Simeone is midfielder Koke, who suffered a hamstring injury against Eibar last month. 

Consequently, Angel Correa and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco will fight for the final position in Simeone's XI, the manager indicating to AS that he's prepared to deploy a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-4-2 on Sunday. 

For Real Madrid, both Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos are expected to return at the Vicente Calderon, but James Rodriguez, Danilo and Pepe remain sidelined with injury. 

As such, we could see Ramos replace Nacho and slot alongside Raphael Varane in the centre of the defence, while Bale could immediately return to the XI and once again occupy his new role behind the central striker. 

Predicted XIs

B/R UK

In the Spotlight

Where do we start?

On one side of the divide, Atletico's new signings aren't exactly lighting up the place and enter this clash with plenty to prove. Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto and Ferreira-Carrasco have struggled thus far, while Stefan Savic has barely played. Only the at-home-again Filipe Luis is presently embedded in the XI. 

On the other side, Cristiano Ronaldo is one goal away from breaking Raul's goalscoring record at Real Madrid (the club and Marca argue he already has, crediting the Portuguese with a goal against Real Sociedad in 2011 that officials awarded to Pepe). Bale is staring at a rare opportunity to win over fans, Karim Benzema is in hot form, Luka Modric has a chance to change the recent dynamic of this derby, and Rafa Benitez can sway the doubters with victory over Atletico. 

The spotlight, then, is on, well, almost everyone. 

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Atletico Madrid: 11-5

Draw: 23-10

Real Madrid: 13-10