The defeat in Espanyol means Real Madrid’s advance at the top of the Liga is barely before a huge Madrid derby.
With the very tight title race in Spain and a lot of range for twists and turns, Saturday’s match between the capital’s giants will not decide the champion of the division when everything is said and done, but he could have a huge postponement.
Madrid has not tasted defeat against Atleti at Bernabeu since 2016, but visitors are in a creeping mood while hosts have availability problems for defense and balance problems.
Carlo Ancelotti will surely have to do DIY and juggling. Here is the team he could choose for the visit to Atletico.
GK: Thibaut Courtois – Ancelotti sounded the changes for the 3-2 Copa del Rey victory in Madrid on Wednesday in Leganes, with Andriy Lunin having a rare departure. Courtois is a safe bet to come back on Saturday.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – Ancelotti has bizarrely opted for 90 minutes from Federico Valverde on the right back in the middle of the week, with Vazquez deriving in and out of the side lately. However, the veteran should be included this weekend.
CB: Aurelien Tchouameni – The French international proved that he was an option as a central defender usable on his many departures in the defense of Madrid this quarter. He will have to fall into the back line for the derby again.
CB: RAUL ASENCIO – Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Eder Militao were all released, so there will be a first departure in this match for the ASENCIO very considered.
LB: Fran Garcia – There has been a lot of loot on the left in recent weeks, and Garcia may have jumped Ferland Mendy in the depth board. The threat of higher attack in the diminutive rear can be necessary to help Madrid’s offer to penetrate an ATLETI compact block.
CM: Federico Valverde – The Uruguayan probably did not need to endure the entire Wednesday cup tie, but he is one of the few who rarely seemed to be embarrassed by this concept of “fatigue”.
CM: Eduardo Camavonga – This is nothing more than bad news on the injury front for Madrid in recent times, but the return projected by the fellowship of a problem of hamstrings is a major boost.
CM: Jude Bellingham – Ancelotti must do something if he should prevent visitors from running in the counter. If he does not want to sacrifice one of his four star Fronts, he may have to restrict Bellingham’s attacking freedom.
RW: Rodrygo – The Brazilian is better on the left, but he will not enter the team on his superior compatriot on his favorite flank.
St: Kylian Mbappe – Remarkably, this is the first time that Diego Simeone has been planning the game for Mbappe. The Frenchman has never met a team led by Simeone, and a concerted effort will be made by visitors to the new Madrid superstar.
LW: Vinicius Junior – Vini spent a large part of 2025 suspended, and his year has not yet put the game. A dazzling display in the derby would be a timely return to form.
