La Liga: Madrid Derby is Top of the Table Clash

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid

Who would have thought it?

Real Madrid was seemingly in disarray only a week ago. But now after three league wins on the bounce, Zinedine Zidane’s team sits proudly at the top of La Liga. And after a solid start to its own campaign, Atletico Madrid is a single point behind in second place.

Two defeats already have left Barcelona a little off the pace, though La Liga betting odds back another Catalan title.

Fans of both Real and Atleti will have their eyes on Getafe in the run-up to this game, hoping the La Liga 2019 updates bring them news of another Barca slip up. Their opponents are draw specialists, with four already this season so you never know.

And then, whatever the results elsewhere, it’s the battle of Madrid to decide who sits at the top of the pile at the end of the next round of matches.

Bring it on!

Talking Points

What crisis?

There was much gnashing of teeth at the Bernabeu after Los Blancos were humiliated by a 3-0 defeat to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League. Some of the most upset Real Madrid fans even called for a change in head coach, which is a little harsh as ZZ was the man who led them to three European titles in two and half years!

But what a difference a week makes. Victories over Sevilla and Osasuna have changed the mood — for the time being anyway — and a win at the Wanda Metropolitano will really put smiles on Los Blancos’ faces.

Karim Benzema has been on fire, heading his fifth goal of the campaign in Real’s priceless win in Sevilla. But he was one of a number of players rested during Wednesday’s win over Osasuna. Eden Hazard, Raphael Varane, keeper Thibaut Courtois and James Rodriguez all started on the bench, while summer recruit Luka Jovic made a rare start upfront.

All in all, it’s been a good week for Los Blancos, and a result in the Madrid Derby will make it an excellent week.

Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa could leave La Liga next summer with clubs in China and Qatar interested — Atletico Madrid player Diego Costa smiles during a training session

Morata’s Moment of Madness

Diego Simeone will be without one of his strikers for this big match after the red mist fell on Wednesday. Los Rojiblancos got back to winning ways away to Real Mallorca –with Joao Felix and Diego Costa on target — but Alvaro Morata was sent off within eight minutes of climbing off the bench. He received a yellow card for a confrontation with Xisco Campos and then inexplicably continued his row with the referee to pick up a second yellow.

So Atleti is likely to start with Costa and Felix again upfront – a combination which will test Sergio Ramos and co in the Los Blancos’ defence.

Atleti’s rearguard has changed this season with Stefan Savic brought in to replace Diego Godin. And it’s working pretty well again, with only four goals conceded in six games so far.

History

The head-to-head between these two are well and truly in Los Blancos’ favour with 35 wins to Atleti’s 12, and there have been 18 draws in all competitions since 1993.

The most recent clash was a ten goal extravaganza in the pre-season ICC clash in New Jersey, as Los Rojiblancos thrashed Real 7-3. Costa scored four and managed to get himself sent off as Atleti raced into a 5-0 lead by the half time break.

Felix scored his first goal for his new club, while Benzema hinted at his early season form by bagging one for Los Blancos.

Zidane will remind his team of Atleti’s attacking danger and try to fire them up for speedy revenge, more importantly, to get the result they need to stay top.

But it won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination, Los Rojiblancos are unbeaten in 12 at the Wanda Metropolitano – winning two and drawing one on home soil this season.

Betting Tip

	Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid	Over 2.50 goals @ 1.98
	September 29, 03:00 (GMT+8)

The latest SBOBET odds have Atleti at 2.41, Real at 2.88, and the draw at 3.25 so this is a really tough call to make with all three results in play.

Los Blancos have recovered well from their nightmare in Paris and will be keen to stay top while keeping the gap between themselves and Barcelona at a useful four points.

But Atletico is hard to beat at home, and Simeone’s side has presented the biggest challenge to Barca over the last two seasons for a good reason. They are hard to break down and have a serious cutting edge upfront.

This is not going to be another ten-goal thriller but I think with Benzema, Felix, and Costa all in form, there will be goals.