Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is reportedly very likely to be match fit in time to face his former club, Real Madrid. Because Sunday brings the next edition of Madrid Derby, one of the most highly anticipated fixtures in Spanish football. While Morata should be fit for this intense rivalry match,ย Atletico will be without three key players.
Jose Gimenez, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thomas Lemar all look set to miss out.
El Derbi Madrileรฑo FYIs
Kickoff: Sun. Feb. 4,ย 8pm, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Starting XI Predictions for Both Sides: go here
Form Guide, Standings: Real Madrid WWWWWย 1stย 51 ptsย ย Atletico Madrid WWWLWย ย 3rd 47 pts
Result Probability: Real Madridย 56%ย ย Drawย 23%ย ย Atletico Madrid 21%
Real Madrid Team News
German center back Antonio Rudiger left the win over Getafe on Thursday night due to a thigh injury, and he is a question mark for this match.
Meanwhile Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended here, due to the booking that he picked up against Getafe.
Elsewhere Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba all remain out long-term, due to their knee injuries.
The atmosphere in a Madrid Derby is always electric, with fans from both sides creating an intense and passionate environment, whether the match is held at the Santiago Bernabรฉu or the Wanda Metropolitano.
This edition will be no different, as the implications of this derby clash will extend beyond bragging rights.
The result of this match will have influence on the La Liga title race.
For Los Blancos and their supporters, there is also the added motivational element of revenge, with Atleti having beaten them twice already this season.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager ofย The Sports Bank.ย Heโs also theย author of โTransatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,โ andย โNo, I Canโt Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.โ
Heโs written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News,ย Sports Illustratedย andย theย Chicago Tribune.ย He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for theย International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the websiteย onย Twitter.
