Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
The noises from the two camps have been very different, and yet their situations are remarkably similar.
When Atletico Madrid's Filipe Luis was asked this week of his team's title chances in the league, his response was realistic—honest. "We have said goodbye to La Liga," he said with typical Atletico speak. On Friday, when Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was asked whether his club was approaching a similar throw-in-the-towel point, his response was blunt: "Let me be straight: No."
Such public stances from the respective clubs are largely expected—Atleti never talk up their title credentials; Real are obliged to do so—but you suspect the players of both squads might have heard Luis' words and thought something like: "Amen, brother."
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In the table, Atleti sit eight points behind Barcelona, and Real sit nine back. Only 13 rounds remain; for Barcelona to let it slip from here, they'd need to lose as many games in 13 as they have done in 45 to date in all competitions this season. What's more, the Catalans own an unassailable lead in the head-to-head record against Atleti and a colossal 4-0 advantage against Real.
Barring a flesh-eating disease spreading through the Camp Nou, the league title looks as good as gone for those in the capital.
Thus, Saturday's Madrid derby at the Bernabeu will have a curious feel.
As ever, the latest installment between these two fierce crosstown rivals will be intense, physical, dramatic in one way or another and almost certainly controversial. This is what these teams do; they always have, particularly since Diego Simeone's arrival at the Vicente Calderon and Atleti's victory in the 2013 Copa del Rey final—a before-and-after moment—a divider of staggeringly contrasting derby eras.
And yet, this edition of the derby has a playing-for-places whiff about it. Outside the confines of the rivalry, beyond the bragging rights, it's possible this duel will have little big-picture significance, providing Barcelona keep doing their thing.
It hasn't been this way recently.
Since a relatively inconsequential league meeting in April 2013, every Madrid derby has mattered—and not just because it's the Madrid derby. There was the Copa del Rey final in 2013; the Champions League final in 2014; round-of-16, quarter-final and semi-final ties across those two competitions; the Spanish Super Cup at the beginning of last season; and five league meetings, all of which have been pivotal.
But this one might not be—not so much. The stakes are high but perhaps only because it's the derby, marking it different from the 15 that have gone before it since April 2013.
So who has the edge?
It's hard to know.
Both of these teams are coming off the back of frustrating draws in the league that have left their tasks bordering on impossible, while Atleti failed to score for a second straight game against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday. Both teams have injury issues, too: Real Madrid will be missing Marcelo and Gareth Bale, while Atleti will be without the absolutely crucial Yannick Carrasco.
It is true that Real's overall form coming into Saturday's meeting is stronger, but, like Atleti, they're yet to beat a top-four rival this season. And in the league, they haven't beaten Atleti for almost three years.
It looks tight, extremely so. And you can bet it will be feisty, eventful and controversial.
But in the bigger picture, will it actually matter?
Match Details
Date: Saturday, February 27
Time: 3 p.m. GMT / 10 a.m. ET / 4 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK—delayed broadcast), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)
Form Lines
| D: 1-1 vs. Malaga | D: 0-0 vs. PSV Eindhoven |
| W: 2-0 vs. Roma | D: 0-0 vs. Villarreal |
| W: 4-2 vs. Athletic Bilbao | W: 1-0 vs. Getafe |
| W: 2-1 vs. Granada | W: 3-1 vs. Eibar |
| W: 6-0 vs. Espanyol | L: 1-2 vs. Barcelona |
| D: 1-1 vs. Real Betis | L: 2-3 vs. Celta Vigo |
Team News
For Real Madrid, Marcelo will be unavailable to Zidane after suffering a calf strain during training this week, per AS, meaning one of the two right-backs in Dani Carvajal or Danilo will be used as a makeshift option on the left side of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.
In midfield, the familiar trio of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Isco should take their places in the middle, with the latter set to return to the midfield after being part of the front three against Malaga.
Meanwhile in attack, Karim Benzema is in line to return after missing the trip to Malaga with a hip injury and will likely line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez. Gareth Bale remains out.
For Atletico, central defender Jose Gimenez returns from suspension and will partner Diego Godin in the centre of the defence. As always, they'll be flanked by Filipe Luis and Juanfran.
In midfield, Augusto Fernandez could make his first start since suffering a knee injury against Barcelona having returned to the bench for Atleti's Champions League clash with PSV on Wednesday. During Tiago's ongoing absence, Simeone will almost certainly opt for his most trusted faces in Koke, Saul Niguez and Gabi for the other midfield slots.
Up front, meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres should continue, with Yannick Carrasco out through injury.
Predicted Lineups
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In the league it might, you know:
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Madrid: 4-5
Draw: 13-5
Atletico Madrid: 15-4
