The highlight match in the La Liga this weekend is a tantalizing Madrid derby as champions Real welcome city rivals Atletico.
Real Madrid are second in the standings with 51 points and are on a high after thrashing Liverpool 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Madrid are on a five-match winning streak and need to maintain their form if they are to reduce the gap between them and La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Atletico on the other hand are in fourth place with 41 points and a win here could see them return to the top 3.
Real Madrid – unbeaten at home in the league this season – recorded a 2-1 victory over Atletico in the reverse game at Wanda Metropolitano.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team will also have one eye on their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg with Barcelona on March 2.
Atletico have not beaten Real Madrid at Bernabeu in La Liga since 2016 and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by them in the quarters last month.
The visitors have the fourth-best away record in La Liga this season, winning seven of their 11 matches, collecting 23 points in the process.
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in five of Madrid’s last six La Liga games, while Atletico have kept five clean sheets in the same period.
Will the lack of goals also be a constant in this game or will Real Madrid continue their supreme run of form with a win here?
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What time does Real vs Atletico start?
The game kicks off at 8:30pm Kenyan time at the Santiago Bernabeau.
Real vs Atletico team news
David Alaba and Rodrygo were taken off with injuries against Liverpool and have both been ruled out of this derby.
The potential return of Aurelien Tchouameni to training is a major boost for the home team but may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are set to re-establish their midfield partnership here with talisman Karim Benzema tasked to lead the attacking line.
For the visitors, Antoine Griezmann will start up front partnered with former Madrid forward Alvaro Morata.
Rodrigo de Paul will be absent with a muscular problem and Pablo Barrios is set to be his replacement in the only change expected in the starting XI.
Real vs Atletico head to head
The hosts have won 31 games from the 62 played against their city rivals while Atletico have recorded 12 wins.
The remaining 19 have resulted in a stalemate.
Real vs Atletico current form
Ancelotti’s charges have won all of their last 5 games heading into this one while Atletico have recorded 3 wins and one defeat in that period.
Real vs Atletico prediction
The derby always brings with it loads of pressure for both teams and this will not be any different. Judging by the recent games for both teams, they will both find a goal.
The home team are tipped as favorites to win.