Real Madrid lock horns with Atletico Madrid in a tantalizing Madrid derby in the first semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup 2024 in Riyadh.
RM vs ATL Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 10 January 2024 / Thursday, 11 January 2024
Time: 22:00 (KSA) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh
RM vs ATL Match Preview
Real Madrid are in the hunt for all four trophies available this season and the opportunity is there to lift the first one in the form of Supercopa de Espana or the Spanish Super Cup in the opening month of 2024. So far in the 2023/24 campaign, Los Blancos have been in scintillating form sitting top of the La Liga table and qualified for the Champions League last-16 without losing a game in the group stages. They also started their defence of the Copa Del Rey title with a cruising 3-1 away victory over fourth-tier club Arandina CF in the first round at the weekend. Now, Carlo Ancelotti’s men head to Saudi Arabia for a competition they have won 12 times before including twice since the four-team format was introduced in the 2019-20 season. Real failed to make it three after losing to arch-rivals Barcelona in the El Classico final last season whom they can also meet in the showpiece this time if the Osasuna don’t pull off an upset against the Catalan giants in the other semi-final. Los Blancos will have to fulfil their task first defeating city rivals Atletico who are the only side to have beat them this season. Since that loss in the La Liga meeting in September, Real Madrid has established a 19-game unbeaten streak consisting of 16 victories. A highly motivating record to take revenge in this clash.
On the other hand, Atletico Madrid has not gained much than pride from the Madrid derby win in Metropolitano sitting in the fifth spot and a massive 10 points adrift from the top spot. While they remain in contention for the Champions League places, the La Liga title race seems to be a closed chapter for the Los Colchoneros until and unless a dramatic change happens in the second half of the campaign. However, Diego Simeone's side has three more trophies to play for this season with the Spanish Super Cup being one. This will be their third appearance in the four-team format of the Supercopa de Espana having been knocked out by Athletic Club in the last participation in 2022. While Atletico won the Super Cup twice, the last one being against a Real Madrid team managed by Carlo Ancelotti in 2014, their inconsistent form will be a major worry heading into the second Madrid derby of the season. Real are sure not to repeat their mistake of the derby loss last time and their empathic form could spill trouble to any opposition on the day. Atletico have also lost to other title contenders this season including a 1-0 loss to Barcelona and a dramatic 4-3 defeat to surprise chasers Girona in the La Liga citing the team’s inability to hold its fort in crunching fixtures.
Recent Form (all competitions)
RM: WWWWW
ATL: WLWDL
RM vs ATL Team News
Real Madrid are without Lucas Vazquez for the Super Cup with a muscle injury. He joins Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba all out for the season with a ligament tear although the Brazilian might return in April 2024. Ferland Mendy could be in contention after recovering from a head injury while Toni Kroos could also feature after shaking off an ankle problem which forced him to miss the weekend game. Vinicius Junior and Aurelien Tchouameni have also returned to the squad.
For Atletico Madrid, Thomas Lemar remains sidelined with an Achilles injury with Reinildo Manadava missing from the squad due to his national duty commitments in the African Cup of Nations happening at the same time. Pablo Barrios has been included in the Super Cup but there is uncertainty whether he could feature in the semifinal on Wednesday.
RM vs ATL Predicted Lineups
RM: Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr
ATL: Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Witsel, Hermoso, Lino; Llorente, Koke, De Paul; Griezmann, Morata
RM vs ATL Head-to-Head (all competitions)
Played - 233
RM won - 115
Drawn - 60
ATL won - 58
RM vs ATL Head-to-Head (Spanish Super Cup)
Played - 3
RM won - 1
Drawn - 1
ATL won - 1
RM vs ATL Dream11 Team Prediction
Atletico Madrid was the only team to beat Real Madrid this season but the latter seem to have the edge in this clash to progress to the Spanish Super Cup 2024 final.
RM vs ATL Dream11 Top Picks
Captain Pick: Jude Bellingham
Vice-captain Picks: Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata
Others: Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr
Our top picks for the RM vs ATL Dream11 team are Jude Bellingham (17 goals, 5 assists in all competition) and Antoine Griezmann (16 goals, 3 assists in all competition).
RM vs ATL Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Oblak (8)
DEF: Carvajal (9), Gimenez (7.5), Witsel (8.5)
MID: Camavinga (8), Bellingham (9), Kroos (8), Lino (8)
FW: Rodrygo (9), Morata (9), Griezmann (9)
Vice-captain: Antoine Griezmann
Captain: Jude Bellingham
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