La Liga: Madrid Derby is a Huge Moment

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid and Atletico are set to do battle once more in the La Liga match of the weekend. The Madrid derby at the Bernabeu is one of world football’s biggest games and this time it is huge.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side is top of the league table, while Atleti sit in fourth some 10 points back and with a game in hand.

So an away victory would pull Diego Simeone’s side nearer to the summit. But a win for the hosts will mean that even if Atleti win their game in hand, a 10-point gap might already be too big to make up.      

The Madrid rivals are the two teams who will fight out the title according to the latest La Liga 2021 betting odds. Los Blancos are at SBOTOP odds of 1.25 with Rojiblancos at 6.00, while Sevilla, Barcelona, and Real Sociedad are now drifting in the odds.

Both Real and Atleti arrive on the back of a Champions League triumph and, while the hosts have great momentum on their side, the visitors’ midweek boost could be crucial.     

Talking Points

Relentless Real

A 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League was Los Blancos’ ninth consecutive victory in all competitions – a run of results which won Group D in the European competition while taking them eight points clear at the top of La Liga.

While others floundered, Los Blancos raced away at the top with a 2-0 win away to Real Sociedad, putting a dent in another title chaser’s hopes. And with 12 wins, three draws, and a single defeat, Ancelotti’s side is the team to catch and they have a chance to inflict a serious blow on their biggest rival on Sunday. 

Real Madrid are hoping Karim Benzema is fit to start. The 12-goal striker missed the Inter game with a hamstring strain and he’ll have a late fitness test. But if he doesn’t make it, Rodrygo will line up alongside 10-goal Vinicius Junior.  

Despite the loss of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in the summer, Ancelotti still has plenty of experience in the squad. New recruit David Alaba was on target as Real Madrid saw of Barcelona in El Clasico to cut the Blaugrana adrift while Casemiro remains one of the most dominant midfielders in the league.

Atletico’s strong jaw might be back

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid has been famed for being one of the toughest, most uncompromising outfits in world football, tough to break down, and with the ability to strike like a snake.

Those qualities brought the league title to the Wanda Metropolitano last season. But so far, the 2021/22 campaign has been a disappointment.

Atleti have been uncharacteristically flaky at times and, following a shock home defeat to Mallorca, they drifted down to fourth in the table.

As well as their La Liga 2021 resultsbeing below par, Los Rojiblancos were stumbling in Europe too. With one game to play, they were staring elimination in the face but head coach Simeone masterminded a perfect smash and grab in Porto to win 3-1 and make it through to the Champions League Round of 16.

Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, and Rodrigo De Paul were all on target in a bad tempered game in which both teams ended up with 10 men. 

The result was crucial to Atleti’s season and particularly to their state of mind. In the past, Los Rojiblancos have rolled successfully with the punches, and this week when they were on the ropes, the strong jaw returned and they came out fighting.  

Midfielder Yannick Carrasco has been a key figure for Atleti with two goals and four assists to his name. He was sent off against Porto but is available for this crunch match while Simeone hopes centre-back Jose Gimenez will be fit enough to slot in alongside Mario Hermoso again.

History

Los Blancos have had much the better of the head-to-heads, winning 38 and drawing 20 of the last 70 Madrid encounters while Atletico have managed just 12 victories.

The last meeting at the Wanda Metropolitano finished in a 1-1 draw but Real have won their last three home derbies.

In terms of recent form, Real Madrid have won their last nine in all competitions while Atleti have won three, drawn two, and lost one of the last six.   

Betting Tip

	Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid	Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.90
	December 13, 04:00 (GMT+8)

That Los Blancos are odds against at 2.12 in a home match show what the market thinks of Atletico Madrid’s steely qualities.

Real have a home record of five wins and two draws this season, but Los Rojiblancos’ need is much greater than their hosts. And at 3.16 to win or 3.20 to draw, I expect Atleti to give the leaders a tough game.

Next up, Real have a home game to Cadiz while Atleti travel to second placed Sevilla, so I believe this could be a huge week which could even determine the destination of the title before Christmas.

 

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