Matchday 7 of LaLiga brings one of the most eagerly awaited games of the season: Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid. The big Madrid derby will be played on Sunday, 20 September, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, with two teams currently among the top positions in the table facing each other.
After matchday 6, Real Madrid sit second with 15 points, just three behind leaders Barcelona. Atlético Madrid are just behind them in third place with 16 points. With so few matches played, a victory in this derby could have a major impact on the battle for the top positions.
Real Madrid head into the clash after beating Elche 3-2 away from home thanks to a late winner, while Atlético also picked up three points in the last matchday by beating Osasuna 4-0 and showing complete dominance throughout the game. Now, the two rivals meet in one of the most important games of the early stages of the season.
A derby with the LaLiga title race at stake
Real Madrid enter this matchday under pressure to keep pace with Barcelona. José Mourinho’s side have lost just one league game, against Real Betis, when the manager opted for a heavily rotated team, and have since looked to stay close to the leaders.
The 3-2 victory over Elche allowed Los Merengues to pick up another three points and head into the derby with confidence. It was neither an easy nor emphatic victory in terms of the scoreline, but the most important thing for Mourinho was to leave the Martínez Valero with all three points.
Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, also managed to respond after an inconsistent start to the season. Diego Simeone’s side lost one and drew another of their opening matches, but have managed to recover ground and head into the derby with 16 points and plenty of confidence.
Now, playing at home could be an important advantage for Los Colchoneros. The Metropolitano is expected to provide a special atmosphere for the visit of their city rivals, while Simeone faces the difficult task of finding a way to stop a Real Madrid side with Kylian Mbappé in outstanding form.
Real Madrid aim to keep chasing Barcelona
José Mourinho has managed to keep Real Madrid among the main contenders for the title at this stage of the season. With 15 points, Los Merengues know they cannot afford to drop points if they want to keep pace with Barcelona, who remain unbeaten and lead the competition with 18 points after an emphatic 7-2 victory over Racing Santander.
Kylian Mbappé remains Real Madrid’s main standout player. The French forward has already scored seven goals in LaLiga and is among the competition’s top scorers. His ability to find dangerous positions and decide matches will once again be one of the biggest concerns for Atlético’s defence.
Mbappé will not be alone. Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler bring creativity and pace to Real Madrid’s attack and midfield, while players such as Bernardo Silva and Federico Valverde could play an important role in maintaining the team’s balance.
Mourinho’s side will also have several absences to consider. Rodrygo remains sidelined with a serious ACL injury, while Ferland Mendy is also still unavailable. Éder Militão has returned to training but is still recovering from a muscle injury, while Raúl Asencio is a doubt for the derby.
Despite these absences, Real Madrid have enough squad depth to field a highly competitive side at the Metropolitano.
Atlético Madrid look to stop their rivals at home
Atlético Madrid head into the derby with extra motivation. As well as competing for the top positions in LaLiga, they will have the chance to welcome their city’s biggest rivals in front of their own fans.
Diego Simeone knows his side will need to produce a highly competitive performance to overcome Real Madrid. Atlético started the season with some inconsistent results, but their emphatic 4-0 victory over Osasuna helped restore confidence and allowed the team to remain close to the top two.
One of the standout players is Álex Baena, who has already scored four goals in the competition. The Spaniard has become increasingly important in Atlético’s attack and could be one of Simeone’s main weapons as he looks to break down Real Madrid’s defensive organisation.
However, the Argentine manager will have to deal with some important absences. Alexander Sørloth remains sidelined with a muscle injury, while Pablo Barrios is also out after suffering another injury. Julián Álvarez, meanwhile, has suffered a muscle overload and his availability for the upcoming matches has become a concern.
The absence of some attacking options could increase the responsibility on Baena and the other players available to Simeone, especially in a game where Atlético will need to make the most of their chances.
Mbappé v Baena: Stars in the spotlight
One of the main attractions of this derby will be the clash between players who have already had a major influence on their respective teams this season.
For Real Madrid, Mbappé is the main attacking reference. With seven goals, the Frenchman has been clinical and poses a constant threat to any LaLiga defence. His pace and finishing ability make him particularly dangerous in closely fought matches.
For Atlético, Baena has taken on an increasingly prominent role. His four goals so far highlight his importance in attack and give the player added confidence ahead of a match of this magnitude.
But the derby will feature plenty of other protagonists. Vinícius Júnior, Bellingham and Valverde could be decisive for Real Madrid, while Atlético have players capable of bringing intensity and quality to their football, particularly in an atmosphere where the fans will have an important role to play.
What to expect from Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid?
Everything points towards a closely fought derby. Real Madrid head into the game with more points and a more consistent campaign, but Atlético will have home advantage at the Metropolitano and know that a victory could take them even closer to the top.
For Los Merengues, winning means staying close to Barcelona and preventing the leaders from extending their advantage. For Atlético, taking all three points would represent an important statement in the title race and provide a huge boost in confidence for the rest of the season.
Tactics could also prove decisive. Real Madrid are likely to look to exploit the pace of their attacking players and Mbappé’s ability to attack space, while Simeone’s Atlético are expected to rely on intensity, organisation and their ability to press the opposition at the right moments.
With just two points separating the teams before the derby, any detail could make the difference. A goal, a decisive save or an individual piece of brilliance could completely change the course of a match that promises plenty of excitement.
Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid is therefore much more than just another LaLiga match. It is one of the biggest derbies in world football, bringing together two of Spain’s biggest clubs and potentially having a direct impact on the title race.
With Barcelona defending their lead and the two Madrid rivals just behind them, all eyes will be on the Metropolitano on Sunday, 20 September. Madrid is getting ready for another major chapter in the rivalry between Los Merengues and Los Colchoneros.
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