Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid face off in the Madrid derby at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night. The clash could be a pivotal one in the race for the Spanish title, even this early in the season.

Atletico Madrid (Odds for victory 7/5)

Los Rojiblancos made a bright start to the season, but suffered a slip blip with a defeat against Real Sociedad and then a draw against Celta Vigo. However, Diego Simeone’s team recorded a 2-0 away win against Real Mallorca. The home sides recent good form has been enough to take them up to second place in La Liga, a point behind their bitter rivals and leaders Real Madrid.

A record of four wins from six games in the Spanish top-flight is decent, especially as the home side has also kept clean sheets in four of their six outings in the Primera Liga.

Atletico are strong at the Wanda Metropolitano, as they are currently unbeaten on home soil in ten La Liga games, having recorded eight wins. In fact, Saturday’s visitors are the only opposition team to win at the Wanda in 23 league matches.

The home side are renowned for their defensive solidity under Diego Simeone, and they have kept ten clean sheets in their last 15 home outings in La Liga. Their recent home matches in the Spanish top-flight have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in eight of their last ten outings.

Real Madrid (Odds of 2/ 1 for victory)

Zinedine Zidane’s team currently sit top of La Liga after being the new Spanish top-flight campaign with a six-game unbeaten run. A 2-0 win over Osasuna at the Bernabeu last time out means that Los Blancos have now won three straight games in La Liga.

The visitors have started the season in relatively good attacking form, as they have scored at least two goals in four of their six matches this season. Experienced French striker Karim Benzema is experiencing something of a goalscoring renaissance, having scored five goals in as many appearances in the Spanish top-flight.

Los Blancos have recorded just two wins on the road in La Liga in eight matches. However, they are unbeaten in three away matches this season in the league. The visitors have also failed to score just twice in their last 15 away games in the Spanish top-flight.

One stat that bodes well for the visitors in this clash is that Atletico have not beaten them in six La Liga meetings. However, four of those six meetings have ended in draws, with Los Blancos recording two wins.

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Prediction

The recent games between these two sides in La Liga have been tight affairs. We expect the same with this game. Atletico are strong on home soil, while Real Madrid seem to be ticking along nicely in La Liga.

Looking at the odds, the draw at odds of 23/10 looks like a great bet considering the two teams seem to have liked a draw in recent meetings. The under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 4/5 also looks like a decent bet in this one, although it doesn’t offer as much value as the draw does.

Verdict: Back the home win at odds of 23/10 and/or the under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 4/5 (All odds taken from Bet365).

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Who will emerge victorious from the Madrid derby?