Images Sport
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
REAL MADRID  Casillas Diarra, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo Xabi Alonso, Sahin Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo Benzema | ATLETICO MADRID  Courtois Silvio, Miranda, Dominguez, Filipe Suarez, Thiago, Diego, Reyes, Adrian, Arda Turan |
Real Madrid will be without Ricardo Carvalho, who is still recovering from a back injury. Jose Mourinho had a full squad in training on Thursday but different intensity levels of work were present throughout the squad. Kaka and Alvaro Arbeloa are still struggling with injury and trained separately from the squad.
Meanwhile, Brazilian left-back Marcelo returned to training after three weeks out with a thigh strain and may be in line to start in defence. Angel Di Maria is also near full fitness after recovering from his hamstring injury and looks likely to feature against Atletico.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also expected to return to the starting lineup after he was left on the bench for the 6-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, while Nuri Sahin may make his full league debut after impressing in the Champions League rout.
Gregorio Manzano and Atletico Madrid are still sweating over the fitness of star striker Radamel Falcao, who is battling to be fit after picking up a muscle injury on international duty with Colombia.
One positive for the visitors was the return of the influential Jose Antonio Reyes to the squad for the win against Levante. The former Arsenal man previously had a disagreement with coach Manzano but after his impressive substitute appearance last weekend, it appears that he is back in the frame for Atletico.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- The last match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid ended in a 2-1 victory for Jose Mourinho's side. Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil scored in that fixture to see their side seal a derby win in March 2011.
- Madrid have won all of their games at home this season, while averaging 4.25 goals per match in the Spanish top flight in 2011-12.
- Mesut Ozil completed his first 90 minutes for Real Madrid in this season's La Liga in last weekend's 3-2 win over Valencia.
- Atletico Madrid have scored less than half the amount of goals that Real Madrid have notched up in La Liga this season, with 17 to their rivals' 42.
- Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is Atletico's top goalscorer this season, with seven goals.
- It has been over a decade since Atletico recorded a victory over their city rivals.
Prediction
Real Madrid have been imperious at home this season and have not let their city rivals record a win in over a decade. Jose Mourinho's side continued their impressive form midweek, scoring an impressive six goals against Dinamo Zagreb. This form is certainly a danger for Atletico, who have not been living up to expectations this season. Real Madrid should create plenty of chances in this match, and are likely to notch up a few goals. However, the two late goals conceded midweek prove that the Madrid defence can lose concentration at times, which is why Atletico need to be ruthless in their attacking.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Atletico Madrid 
