Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: How Real Will Line Up in La Liga Game

As the international break slinks into the background and La Liga returns, we are presented with the seventh Madrid derby of the calendar year at the Bernabeu on Saturday evening.

Real Madrid recorded two victories in the Copa del Rey semifinal earlier this year against Atletico Madrid and beat them again several months later, via extra time, in the Champions League final in Lisbon.

Before then, though, the two clubs drew 2-2 in Spain's Primera Division back in March.

And Saturday's league meeting between the two clubs, just three games into the season, arrives on the back of Atletico's Spanish Super Cup win earlier this summer—after drawing at the Bernabeu, a Mario Mandzukic goal proved the difference at the Vicente Calderon.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

For a long time—14 years and 23 matches—Los Rojiblancos toiled against their neighbours, but these days, largely thanks to Diego Simeone, they do battle with Madrid confident of securing a result.

This weekend, though, it is Carlo Ancelotti's side who need to get a result—even at this early stage of the season.

After being beaten by Real Sociedad last time out in the league, Madrid desperately need to dodge defeat against Atleti; a draw, providing Barcelona don't come unstuck at home to Athletic Bilbao, could leave them five points behind the Catalans.

Dani Carvajal looks set to be the only major absentee.

The right-back was injured while on international duty with Spain, and Alvaro Arbeloa, as a like-for-like replacement, should come into the side.

Raphael Varane, Fabio Coentrao and Nacho Fernandez are among the other options, with Marco Ruiz of AS suggesting Varane could come in alongside Pepe in the middle of the back four, with Ancelotti shifting Sergio Ramos to the right.

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

Behind the back four, Iker Casillas is likely to again wear the gloves ahead of Keylor Navas.

Elsewhere, from a gluttony of options to not even a handful, Madrid's midfield basically dictates itself at the moment.

Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria have moved on, while Sami Khedira is injured, leaving Asier Illarramendi as the only real rival to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric for one of the deeper midfield positions.

The German and Croatian, therefore, should start, with James Rodriguez once again handed the more attacking central role.

Whether this will be a long-term fix is a debate for another day. Ancelotti can't afford to mix things up and not get a result against Los Rojiblancos, so he will have to keep things relatively familiar for now.

As with the middle of the park, the front three should pick itself as well.

Jose Ignacio Unanue/Associated Press

Marca report that Gareth Bale has returned from international duty with Wales ready for action, despite Welsh complaints over the state of the artificial pitch they were forced to play their Euro 2016 qualifier against Andorra on.

Karim Benzema should line up through the middle, while Cristiano Ronaldo, following an extended break from action by his standards, is ready to take his place on the left side of Madrid's attack.

How Real Madrid could line up: Iker Casillas; Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Luka Modric; James Rodriguez; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo