The Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match will occur at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday, September 20. This is going to be the first Madrid derby of the season, and it will be a big test for Jose Mourinho’s Los Blancos side.
Real Madrid are in second position in the La Liga table with 15 points in six matches, while Atletico are fourth with 13 points from the same number of matches. The Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match should be a keenly contested one, and if either team manages to win the game, it will give them a huge advantage in the race for the title.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Three Key Battles
#1. Alex Baena vs Denzel Dumfries
Denzel Dumfries has begun his debut season at Real Madrid well, but he will have to tackle the threat posed by Alex Baena, the Atletico Madrid left-winger, who recently won the World Cup with Spain. Baena has scored four goals in seven matches for Atletico so far and will be a threat through the inside-left channel for the home side on Sunday.
Hence, Dumfries will have to curb his attacking instincts somewhat while dealing with Baena. The Dutch right-back’s ability to deal with Baena will be a crucial component in Sunday’s match. Real Madrid will likely be the dominant team, and hence, they cannot afford to concede a goal because of a lapse in their defence.
#2. Koke vs Jude Bellingham
Koke has spent 16 seasons at Atletico Madrid and has a staggering 747 appearances for the club as a holding midfielder. However, the 34-year-old Spanish midfielder will have to deal with a much younger opponent in Jude Bellingham in the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match.
Bellingham’s surging forward runs will be key to forming Real Madrid’s moves in the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match. The Englishman tends to get into goal-scoring positions with his off-the-ball movement, so Koke will have to guard against that, stop his forward runs and fall back into the box to mark him. Bellingham has scored three goals in seven appearances for Real Madrid already this season and remains a very important player for Los Blancos.
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#3. Christian Romero vs Kylian Mbappe
There is hardly a better centre-forward than Kylian Mbappe in world football today, and Christian Romero will have the unenviable task of containing him. Mbappe has scored eight goals in seven matches for Los Blancos so far this season, and it will take a Herculean effort from the Atletico Madrid defence in the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match on Sunday to stop the 27-year-old Frenchman from scoring again.
Romero is in his first season at Atletico and has the wealth of experience of playing in the Premier League. The Argentine centre-back has faced Mbappe at the international level as well. His ability to stop Mbappe’s runs and ability to combine with his fellow forwards will determine the fate of the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match to a great extent. It remains to be seen whether he can stop Mbappe’s great form.
Extra Time Note
It should be a close match, but Real Madrid will start as the slight favourites. Atletico might miss Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth in the match, which should considerably weaken their attack.
Real Madrid must win this match to keep the pressure on Barcelona, the table-toppers. Los Blancos have a great attack and midfield, with their defence also being very good. One might not be surprised if the Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match turns out to be a high-scoring one.
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