Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Madrid will come to a standstill on Saturday night when La Liga's top two clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Champions Real have a one-point cushion over capital rivals Atletico, who are in fine form as they strive to land their first league title in four years.

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid betting tips and predictions

Draw or Atletico Madrid Double Chance - 10/11

Six of the last seven meetings between the Madrid giants have ended all-square after 90 minutes and it would be no surprise if the latest instalment of one of football's greatest rivalries is every bit as tight.

It's derby day in the Spanish capital and while the stakes are always high, they look higher than usual this time around, with just a point between the pair ahead of their showdown at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid are top but saw their lead over second-placed Atletico slashed to a solitary point last Saturday when Carlo Ancelotti's men lost 1-0 at Espanyol a couple of hours after Diego Simeone's side had beaten Mallorca 2-0.

It means the title race is turning into a classic - Barcelona are only four points off the pace - which means there is far more than merely bragging rights riding on the outcome at the Bernabeu.

It will inevitably be fiery and feisty and the chances are it will be close. It was 1-1 at Atletico earlier in the season, the third 1-1 draw in the last four meetings between these two.

Real have done very little wrong domestically this term, though a 2-1 loss at Athletic Bilbao and last week's misstep at Espanyol show a vulnerability.

And that was echoed in the UEFA Champions League, a competition in which Ancelotti's superstars were beaten three times - by Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool - which means the Italian has another unwanted distraction incoming, namely the first leg of their play-off round tie at Manchester City on Tuesday.

Atletico had no such issues, cruising into the last 16 in the UEFA Champions League and their form is actually better than that of their neighbour.

Since a 1-0 loss at Real Betis in October, Los Rojiblancos have played 21 matches across all competitions, winning 19 of them and losing just once, 1-0 at Leganes last month.

Real have still got countless defensive headaches for Ancelotti to resolve with Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba unavailable, which will mean a makeshift back four.

Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior lead an all-star attacking battery trying to break down Simeone's exceptionally well-disciplined rearguard, minus the suspended Robin Le Normand.

Atletico last won at the Bernabeu in La Liga nine years ago but will be confident they can end that sorry run this weekend.

At the very least, Real can be taken on with the Draw-Atletico option in the Double Chance market a compelling price.

Conor Gallagher Over 1.5 Fouls - 6/5

It was a niggly game at the Metropolitano when these old rivals fought out a 1-1 draw in the autumn.

The match, always tense, produced only 12 shots per side - both down on their average - but a grand total of 22 fouls.

At the heart of all the action - disciplined and otherwise - was England's Conor Gallagher, who has settled into a role in Diego Simeone's midfield since his summer move from Chelsea.

Gallagher always was, and still is, a combative player and in that first derby clash in September, he chipped in with two fouls to earn a yellow card.

He averages 1.6 tackles and 1.0 fouls per game, and he will have to be at his toughest to help shackle Real's exciting midfield and forward players.

This game will produce its share of tackles, fouls and cards and Gallagher looks a fair bet at 6/5 to register over 1.5 fouls.

Over 9.5 Corners - 5/6

There were 10 corners in the first meeting between these teams this season and they can at least repeat that feat at the Bernabeu.

Real are averaging 6.7 corners per every home game, Atletico 4.2 for every away assignment.

The chances are this game will open up at some stage and a double-figure corners return looks plausible.

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Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid odds

Real Madrid - 17/20
Draw - 13/5
Atletico Madrid - 16/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.