Madrid Derby Preview: Atletico Faces Real Amid Recent Form Concerns

Atletico rebounded from two consecutive defeats against Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool earlier this month, achieving decisive victories over Real Sociedad (3-0) and Osasuna (4-0) in their last two outings. Coach Diego Simeone emphasized the importance of their recent form, stating, "We controlled it in the first half even though we weren’t clinical. We were clinical in the second half and controlled the game."

Real Madrid enters the match with mixed results under coach Jose Mourinho, having suffered a loss to Real Betis and narrowly defeating Elche 3-2 after squandering a two-goal lead. Mourinho expressed concerns regarding his team's inability to maintain control during matches and emphasized the significance of defensive stability.

Regarding the upcoming derby, Mourinho remarked, "It’s not just for Sunday’s match, but for every match. I don’t like gifting control. It’s not about the goals; it’s about giving away control of the match."

In terms of predicted outcomes, the Opta supercomputer favors Real Madrid with a 46.6% chance of victory, while Atletico has a 28.3% probability and a draw is assessed at 25.1%. Historical data shows that Real Madrid leads in their head-to-head record, having won 125 matches compared to Atletico's 60, with 58 draws.

In their last encounter in March, Vinicius Jr played a crucial role in Real Madrid's comeback win, scoring twice in a 3-2 victory. In contrast, the previous season's corresponding fixture saw Atletico triumph 5-2, marked by Julian Alvarez's standout performance.

As both teams prepare, Atletico may face selection challenges with key players like Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth nursing injuries. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will be missing Eder Militao, Rodrygo, and Ferland Mendy due to injuries, although Mourinho has a generally healthy squad available.