David Whitworth | @DCWh1tw0rth
It is matchday seven of this highly entertaining and thoroughly open La Liga season. The centerpiece being the Madrid derby on Saturday night when the Wanda Metropolitano will host the 284th overall edition between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid – with a juicy jackpot on the line for the potential winner.
The tale of the tape in all competitions sees Real Madrid lead with 147 victories to Atlético’s 73 and 66 draws since their first clash on December 2nd 1906 – a win for Real Madrid by two goals to one.
Both of these high rollers enter this crucial clash on the back of victories – Atlético grinding out a 0-2 win in Mallorca in the Estadio Son Moix thanks to goals from Diego Costa and Joao Felix, that despite playing the last give minutes a man light with striker Álvaro Morata given his marching orders.
Their bitter neighbourhood rivals, Real, also secured all three points with a routine home victory against Osasuna 2-0 with goals in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu coming from the young guns Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
It is the Whites of Zinedine Zidane who currently top the table on 14 points, although they have been troubled several times so far this season, which shows the competitiveness of the league – the most wide open in years.
Atlético, meanwhile, sit in third position on 13 points, tied with Real Sociedad and just a point behind their next opposition. Their new look squad has settled into life in La Liga just fine with notable performances from the likes of Kieran Trippier and Joao Felix.
It is a tantalizing clash with everything to play for and on face value it is a hard call to split the two rivals. A wise bet would be the contest ending all square but this is a new La Liga dawning where it is becoming increasingly difficult to wisely place your chips on the outcome of a result.
The last time these two teams faced off was last February when Real Madrid obtained a 1-3 win at the home of Atlético thanks to goals from Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale with Barcelona new-boy Antoine Griezmann netting the goal for Atleti.
It promises to be a fascinating clash this time around between the likes of the latest sensation, Portuguese forward Joao Felix vs Real Madrid’s new poster boy, Belgium’s Eden Hazard.
The derby this season is not only about bragging right – if there is to be a winner, the victor would receive a huge shot in the arm confidence wise to push on in earnest for a title bid. Both sides will want to go all in and cash in on a big bonanza of three vital La Liga points from this high stakes derby delight.
#Atletico #RealMadrid #LaLiga
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