Real Madrid is pissed about their recent 4-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. On the other hand, Atletico Madrid are ready for a big game at home. Both teams are primed for the El derbi. But which team will come out on top? Here’s a look at the starting eleven and injury concerns.
El derbi
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are set to clash on Sunday, 18 September, in the first El Derbi of the LaLiga season. The two teams have started the season with five wins apiece. Real is coming off a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig. The game is unlikely to be shown on conventional TV channels in the United States, but you can still tune in for this exciting clash.
Atletico Madrid is coming off a 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. This makes it more important for them to focus on the upcoming clash with rivals Real. Meanwhile, Real is also in the group stage of the UCL. They have won 90 of their last 170 matches.
Real is the favourite to win this derby. Real won their first seven matches and their two games in the Champions League. Real are the better team, scoring more goals and conceding fewer goals than their rivals. In addition to this, they have more shots on goal and tend to win possession more often. However, atletico are one of Madrid’s toughest rivals.
The two sides have been in a battle for a while now. The last time Atletico won at the Bernabeu was in 1999. The team had a new manager, Diego Simeone, who had a good year and won the Copa del Rey. However, Simeone’s team has not won a league derby since 1999. Nevertheless, Simeone’s side took the lead at the Bernabeu in the first league derbi since the arrival of Simeone.
Starting 11
The Starting 11 for Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid is a thorny one, with some key players missing through injury. In particular, Cristiano Ronaldo is missing from the squad due to a muscular issue. In his absence, Rodrygo has filled in for the Portuguese winger. The Ballon d’Or winner was the top scorer for Real Madrid last season, but he is expected to return this weekend. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have a rocky start to the season.
Both teams are set to play defensively. Real Madrid could start with a back four, with Karim Benzema, Fabian Balbuena, and Sergio Reguilon all doubtful. However, the return of Jan Oblak will boost the team’s defensive strength. In addition, Diego Simeone might opt for a five-man defence, with David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger set to play centrally. Moreover, the front three would be Alvaro Morata and Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid will look to continue their winning streak in La Liga against Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone is looking for ways to inspire his side. Atletico Madrid lost to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, missing a golden opportunity to end Real Madrid’s unbeaten start and close the gap at the top of La Liga. Moreover, they were on track to pick up their fourth point in as many games in the Champions League. Moreover, Real Madrid were on their way to beating RB Leipzig in their last match.
Real Madrid are still riding on the momentum from their double-winning season. Carlo Ancelotti will rotate his team regularly. He will ration senior players’ minutes while giving more minutes to younger players.
Injury concerns
Injury concerns are a big worry for both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid ahead of the derby clash. Real Madrid have suffered a number of injuries in recent weeks. Karim Benzema and Eder Militao were both injured in the opening Champions League game against Celtic, and they are both likely to miss the derby. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti is without the services of Dani Carvajal, who was forced off the field after making a bad tackle against Mallorca.
Benzema and Dani Carvajal are two players that Zidane is expected to rest for the derby. However, there are also some key players who are a major concern for Zidane. Marcelo, Gareth Bale, and Sergio Ramos all remain in doubt and may not play against Atletico. Andriy Lunin will also be out because of COVID-19.
Real Madrid have had to deal with a number of injuries recently, which has left the club’s squad thin and susceptible to injuries. However, Zidane has stated that he does not want to take any risks with the fitness of his players. The club has not responded to The Athletic’s request for comment.
Atletico Madrid are in good shape but have a number of key players missing. The midfielder Karim Benzema is still doubtful, while Antoine Griezmann has been out for two matches due to fatigue. These are two of the key players for the club, but the rest of the team should be fine.
Injury concerns are a big concern for both teams ahead of the match. Karim Benzema is out for two to three weeks after suffering a muscle strain against Mallorca. Meanwhile, Eder Militao has been nursing a hamstring injury.
Matchday 6
Real Madrid is chasing a clean sweep of their opening six fixtures in the Spanish league, a feat they have achieved only once since 1987/88. In fact, Real is the only team in the world with a 100% record in the top five European leagues, and a win in this match would see them regain the top spot.
Atletico Madrid have an injury-hit squad. They have lost their key striker Karim Benzema due to a thigh injury, but they are boosted by the return of star goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Real are without their star player Karim Benzema, so their challenge is to stop Atletico from extending their unbeaten streak.
The UEFA Champions League schedule is unusual because of the World Cup, but it has been structured around this event. This year’s group stage ends on November 1 and November 2, and the final matches always feature dead rubbers and plenty of drama. As a result, the match between Real Madrid and Atletico will surely be one of the most exciting and thrilling matches of the season.
After losing the first leg of the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid won the away leg 0-2 against Osasuna. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace and Marcelo netted a goal. The victory means Real Madrid will face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.
Real Madrid is a team with a rich history in the Champions League. They have already qualified for the knockout stages, but RB Leipzig, Celtic, and Shakhtar Donetsk haven’t yet done so. If they win the game, they will automatically qualify for the knockout stages. If they lose, they will be relegated to the Europa League.
ESPN+
If you’re a die-hard Real Madrid fan, you’ll want to make sure you can watch the game on ESPN+. The Spanish La Liga rivals will meet on Sunday for Matchday 6 of the 2022/2023 season. The game will be broadcast live on LaLigaTV and ESPN+. If you’re in the UK, you can also tune in to LaLigaTV.
Real Madrid are expected to field a strong team against Atletico Madrid. They’re missing star striker Luis Suarez, who was substituted in the opening minutes against Porto. However, the return of Jan Oblak gives them a boost. In addition, the team could deploy a back four with David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger. In the front three, they’ll have Vinicius Jr. and Toni Kros.
While Real Madrid is looking to regain their lead over Barcelona, Atleti is battling to maintain fourth place. Any point from this game would help them stay up there. Nevertheless, a draw would be better for the visitors. Despite the tough slog, the Spanish LaLiga continues to be exciting to watch.
Watching the La Liga Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid on ESPN+ is legal and convenient. The app supports several devices, including Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, and Xbox One. In addition to Spanish LaLiga, it also broadcasts Bundesliga, Swedish Allvenska, and USL games.
Fans of Real Madrid can get their fix on ESPN+ with Spanish and English language commentary on the match. This is an ideal way to watch the match without having to subscribe to cable TV, which can have ads.
