• Home
• /
• Football

Real face Atletico in Madrid derby

Madrid - Atletico is eight points behind Barcelona, while Real Madrid is nine points back going into the 26th round.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will try to keep their title hopes alive when they meet in the city derby this weekend.
The loser at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday is likely to lose even more ground to leader Barcelona, virtually ending its chances of winning the Spanish league title.
Atletico is eight points behind Barcelona, while Real Madrid is nine points back going into the 26th round. Barcelona, unbeaten in 33 games in all competitions, hosts fifth-place Sevilla on Sunday.
Real Madrid and Atletico are coming off disappointing draws in the league, but the game at the Bernabeu should give Madrid an edge as it has won seven straight at home, outscoring opponents 37-7.
Real Madrid's last setback at the Bernabeu was the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona, which eventually led to the replacement of coach Rafa Benitez by Zinedine Zidane. Atletico can take comfort by having won the last two league games against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The first Madrid derby this season ended in a 1-1 draw at Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium.
"It will be a great derby," Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis said. "Real Madrid is very strong when playing at home, but we are one of the best teams in the league when playing away. We know it's going to be a game decided by details. We have to be as prepared as ever."
Here are other things to watch at the Spanish league this weekend:
Cristiano Ronaldo has thrived at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring seven goals in his last three games at the stadium. He scored two goals in the 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao, three in the 6-0 rout of Espanyol and two again in the 5-1 victory over Sporting Gijon.
The Portuguese striker also scored in the 1-1 draw at Malaga last weekend, but he missed a first-half penalty kick when Madrid was leading 1-0.