Real Madrid vs Atlético: derby team news, possible line-ups
Real Madrid host leaders Atlético Madrid at the Estadio Alfredo di Stéfano in LaLiga on Saturday night, with kick-off at 21:00 CET.
Scarcely any changes of personnel are anticipated as Zinedine Zidane and Diego Simeone prepare to pick their line-ups for Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid’s Spanish-capital derby clash in LaLiga on Saturday (21:00 CET).
Carvajal set for Real Madrid return; Vázquez to start over Rodrygo?
Madrid boss Zidane is expected to introduce just the one new face into the side that began Wednesday’s victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Champions League – a 2-0 triumph that took Los Blancos into the last 16 as group winners – with Dani Carvajal set to return to the XI.
First-choice right-back Carvajal is ready to start after overcoming a hamstring injury that has kept him out of Madrid’s last three games.
Meanwhile, after deputising excellently for Carvajal against Mönchengladbach, Lucas Vázquez has every chance of staying in the team by shifting back to his regular role as a winger, replacing Rodrygo Goes on the right flank.
Atlético likely to be unchanged from RB Salzburg win
As for Atlético, Simeone was able to rest Koke, Marcos Llorente, Yannick Carrasco and João Félix in the 2-0 LaLiga win over Real Valladolid a week ago and the quartet are all in line for a return to starting duty in the league, in an XI that is likely to be unchanged from Wednesday’s Champions League triumph at RB Salzburg.
Only Thomas Lemar and Ángel Correa, who would come in for Carrasco and Luis Suárez, respectively, look to have any chance of breaking their way into Simeone’s plans for the LaLiga leaders’ derbi madrileño line-up.
Like Madrid, Atlético come into Saturday’s clash fresh from qualifying for the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition, having claimed second place in Champions League Group A with their 2-0 victory at the Red Bull Arena.
Los Rojiblancos go to the Estadio Alfredo di Stéfano six points ahead of their fourth-placed hosts in LaLiga, having played one game fewer.
Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid: possible starting line-ups:
Real Madrid XI:
Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Lucas Vázquez, Benzema, Vinicius.
Atlético Madrid XI:
Oblak, Savic, Felipe, Hermoso, Trippier, Carrasco, Llorente, Koke, Saúl, Luis Suárez, João Félix.
