La Liga: Madrid derby takes centre stage in Spain, as Real, Atlético clash in top-of-the-table tie

The latest instalment of the Madrid derby will take place at Bernabeu on Saturday evening, with Real Madrid welcoming Atletico Madrid for a top-of-the-table battle in Spain’s top flight.
Real Madrid are currently leading the way in the La Liga table, but they are only one point clear of second-placed Atletico, with Diego Simeone’s side firmly in the title picture with 18 games left.
It would be fair to say that Real Madrid have not yet fully clicked this season, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side are top of the La Liga table, into the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and preparing for a Champions League playoff tie against Manchester City.
A spot in the final four of the cup was secured on Wednesday evening courtesy of a 3-2 success over Leganes, with Gonzalo Garcia’s first goal for the club earning a last-gasp victory for Ancelotti’s side, who are preparing to head to Man City next week for the first leg of their Champions League playoff fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
Los Blancos cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in La Liga, though, especially as they were stunned last weekend, losing 1-0 to struggling Espanyol, with the capital giants now only one point clear of second-placed Atletico at the summit.
There are only four points between third-placed Barcelona and division leaders Real Madrid in what is a fascinating title race, and Los Blancos have already suffered a huge home loss to a title rival this term, conceding four to Barcelona back in October.
The last two league meetings between Real Madrid and Atletico finished 1-1, including at Wanda Metropolitano back in September, while that was also the score in their league contest at Bernabeu last season.
Not too many had Atletico down as genuine contenders for the La Liga title this season, but it has been an excellent campaign to date for the Red and Whites, who are through to the knockout round of the Champions League and also in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Simeone’s side thumped Getafe 5-0 on Tuesday night to book a last-four spot in the cup, while they were 2-0 winners over Mallorca last weekend to move onto 48 La Liga points, boasting a record of 14 wins, six draws and two defeats from 22 matches.
Atletico have picked up 18 points on their travels this season, and they will be coming up against a Real Madrid side that have won nine of their 10 league matches at Bernabeu during the 2024-25 campaign.
The Red and Whites have won the La Liga title on 11 occasions, with their last success coming in 2020-21, and these are the type of matches that they must not lose in order to be viewed as potential title winners.
Atletico are actually unbeaten in their last four league matches with Real Madrid and have lost just one of their last six, although Simeone’s side have not managed to win a La Liga fixture at Bernabeu since February 2016.