Spanish Super Cup winners Real Madrid play a second Madrid derby in a week as hosts Atletico look to derail their Copa Del Rey title defence.
ATL vs RM Match Details
Date: Thursday, 18 January 2024 / Friday, 19 January 2024
Time: 21:30 (CET) / 02:00 (IST)
Venue: Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid
ATL vs RM Match Preview
Atletico Madrid will involve themselves in another nerve-wracking derby with Real Madrid just a week after losing 5-3 after extra-time to city rivals in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final. It was a frustrating loss for Los Colchoneros who twice got the lead in the match but failed to sustain it. Back from Saudi Arabia, Diego Simeone’s side will wish for a change of fortune this time with the stage being the Copa Del Rey this time. Hosting the last-16 clash, the team will be desperate to clear the fresh memories of the defeat by securing consecutive wins over the Super Cup winners at Metropolitano. That 3-1 victory in La Liga last year remains their speck of motivation for the side who have been knocked out from two of the last three Copa Del Rey tournaments at this stage. Sustaining a disappointing form of just two wins in the last six matches, Atletico are fearing the worst again with their rivals going strength to strength since losing to them in September 2023.
Fresh from thrashing rivals Barcelona 4-1 in the Spanish Super Cup final at Riyadh, Real Madrid will take on the task of defending another cup title on their return to Spain. Their stay in the Copa Del Rey will be at stake as they make the trip to city rivals Atletico, the only place Los Blancos have been unsuccessful this season. Having beaten the side on the course of lifting a 13th Supercopa and coming up 3-1 victors after another extra-time drama in the last Copa Del Rey meeting, Ancelotti’s side will be confident of doing the reverse at the venue this time. Real Madrid are turning out to be an unpreventable force carrying a stunning 21-game unbeaten run with seven straight wins under the belt, 17 goals scored and only eight conceded. Even though they have just one win in the last five visits to Metropolitano, an unlikely complacency from the visitors could end their title defence.
ATL vs RM Recent Form (all competitions)
ATL: LWLWD
RM: WWWW
ATL vs RM Team News
No fresh injury problems emerged for Atletico from their derby defeat last week but Memphis Depay will remain on the bench following an adductor issue. Pablo Barrios is also a doubt with an illness while Vitolo and Thomas Lemar remain long-term absentees. Left-back Reinildo will also not be present due to his national team duties in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Visitors Real Madrid are also have the same group of players available who enjoyed the Supercopa triumph although Aurelien Tchouameni missed training on Tuesday. He could be replaced by fellow Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga in midfield if he is not fit for the trip. Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba remain sidelined.
ATL vs RM Predicted Lineups
ATL: Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Saul, Lino; Morata, Griezmann
RM: Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Fernandez, Mendy; Bellingham, Camavinga, Kroos; Diaz; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr
ATL vs RM Head-to-Head (all competitions)
Played - 234
ATL won - 58
Drawn - 60
RM won - 116
ATL vs RM Head-to-Head (Copa Del Rey)
Played - 43
ATL won - 11
Drawn - 14
RM won - 18
ATL vs RM Dream11 Team Prediction
Fresh from their Spanish Super Cup triumph, Real Madrid are once again favourites to beat Atletico Madrid in the opposition's den and seek revenge for their La Liga defeat.
ATL vs RM Dream11 Top Picks
Captain Pick: Jude Bellingham
Vice-captain Picks: Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr
Others: Antoine Griezmann
Our top picks for the ATL vs RM Dream11 team are Jude Bellingham (17 goals and 6 assists in all competitions) and Rodrygo (12 goals and 7 assists in all competitions). The other pick is Antoine Griezmann (17 goals and 3 assists in all competitions).
ATL vs RM Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Oblak (8)
DEF: Carvajal (8), Gimenez (7.5), Rudiger (7.5)
MID: Bellingham (9), Kroos (9), Diaz (8), Saul (7.5)
FW: Rodrygo (9), Griezmann (9), Vinicius Jr (9)
Vice-captain: Rodrygo
Captain: Antoine Griezmann
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