Los Blancos Have Tough Match Without Mbappe

Madrid, Todaysgist.com – The 2024/2025 Spanish League (La Liga) season is holding its eighth week of matches, one of which is an exciting duel between city teams (derby) between hosts Atletico vs Real Madrid.

The match took place at Atletico’s home ground at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium, on Monday (30/9/2024) early morning, at 02.00 WIB.

This match is an opportunity for Real Madrid to catch up with leaders Barcelona. Because it’s unexpected El Barca fell 2-4 to host Osasuna in the match on Sunday (29/9/204) early this morning. However, Madrid will appear without its star player, Kylian Mbappe, who is injured.

It is believed that the City of Madrid derby will be exciting. The hosts will maintain their prestige against the slightly favored visiting team. However, it should be noted that Atletico is the club that beat Madrid last season.

Atletico is in third place in the La Liga standings with 15 points from seven matches. Meanwhile defending champions Real Madrid are in second place with 17 points, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

Atletico last won La Liga in the 2020/2021 season. Diego Simeone’s side have not been in top form at the start of the season, but they are unbeaten, with a record of four wins and three draws from seven matches.

The Red and White team have the best defensive record in La Liga this season, conceding only three times, and they have kept clean sheets in five of their last six matches in Spain’s top league.

Atletico were held to a 1-1 draw by Rayo Vallecano last weekend, but they got back to winning ways on Thursday (26/9/2024) evening with Julian Alvarez’s 90th-minute goal securing a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.

Real Madrid have won five and drawn two of their seven league games this season to collect 17 points, which keeps them in second place in the standings, four points behind division leaders Barcelona.

Los Blancos are on a five-game winning streak in all competitions, including a 3-1 win over Stuttgart in their Champions League opener at the Bernabeu on 17 September 2024.

Ancelotti’s side have also beaten Espanyol and Alaves at home in their last two league games, and they now have three before the international break in October.

Real Madrid have won 116 of their previous 236 matches with Atletico in all competitions, but the Red and White team were also successful in their last meeting.

Team Condition Atletico were without Cesar Azpilicueta, Thomas Lemar and Pablo Barrios due to injury. But the capital giants are in excellent condition for their match with Real Madrid.

There will be changes to the line-up that started the 1-0 win over Celta, with the likes of Alvarez, Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino returning to the line-up.

Alexander Sorloth could be left out, with Alvarez likely to feature alongside Antoine Griezmann. Meanwhile, Conor Gallagher will soon experience the Madrid derby this weekend after being brought in from Chelsea in the summer.

Meanwhile for Real Madrid, the main news involves top scorer Mbappe. The Frenchman was absent from the match due to a thigh problem he suffered against Alaves.

Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos and David Alaba are also absent. However, Eduardo Camavinga has returned to the squad, having recovered from the knee injury he suffered at the start of the season.

Dani Carvajal also returned to the pitch, after the Spaniard overcame the injury that forced him to miss the match against Alaves.

Mbappe’s absence is expected to make Ancelotti switch to the 4-3-1-2 formation, which was widely used last season. This scheme allows Jude Bellingham to operate behind Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, with Luka Modric ready to start in midfield.

Estimated Lineup

Atletico Madrid: Oblak (GK), Le Normand, Gimenez, Reinildo, Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Lino, Alvarez, Griezmann.

Real Madrid: Courtois (GK), Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy, Valverde, Tchouameni, Modric, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius.

Win Prediction

Atletico wins: 32%

Real Madrid wins: 40%

Draw: 28%