Everybody loves a derby, or at least you should. Last week England gave us the latest edition of the Manchester Derby and this week it's Spain's turn as Real Madrid hosts Atletico Madrid in the first El Derbi madrileño of the season.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: Preview and TV schedule
The first El Derbi madrileño of the season finds Atletico ahead of Real Madrid by two points in the table.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno
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Real Madrid enter the match two points behind Atletico in the table and looking to vault over their rivals with a victory at home. Carlo Ancelotti expects to have new signing Gareth Bale back in the lineup after the Welsh winger missed the last two matches with a thigh injury. It would be Bale's first start at the Bernabéu since signing for Madrid at the end of the summer transfer window.
Diego Simeone and Los Rojiblancos meanwhile hope to open up a gap between themselves and 3rd place Madrid. Atletico have won all six of their first league matches this season and are behind Barcelona only on goal differential at the moment.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since last season’s Copa Del Rey final which was won by Atletico, their first victory over their local rivals since 1999.
Real Madrid injuries and suspensions
Out: Xabi Alonso (foot), Raphaël Varane (knee), Marcelo (thigh).
Atletico Madrid injuries and suspensions
Out: Adrian (fractured cheekbone).
Both teams are mostly healthy with Xabi Alonso being Madrid’s only sidelined player as he continues to recover from foot surgery. Varane and Marcelo are both training and nearing their returns to the lineup. For Atletico, Adrian remains out with a fractured bone in his face.
Projected lineups
Real Madrid: Diego López, Álvaro Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fábio Coentrão, Sami Khedira, Asier Illarramendi, Gareth Bale, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema.
Atletico Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Juanfran, João Miranda, Diego Godín, Emilano Insúa, Mario Suárez, Tiago Mendes, Arda Turan, Koke, Diego Costa, David Villa.
Match Date/Time: 10 p.m. local, 4:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
TV: beIN Sport, beIN Sport en Español (U.S.), Sky Sports 2 (U.K.), Canal+ (Spain)
Online: beIN Sport Play (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.)
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