For the past decade, the derby for Madrid have never seemed so challenging and unpredictable than the one this Saturday. The guests from Atletico Madrid do not have a single win in the last 20 matches against Real Madrid in La Liga. Back in 1999 was the last victory for Atletico Madrid. Perhaps the time for the "Rojiblancos" to triumph has come as the amazing Radamel Falcao leads their attack. The current form of Atletico is probably the best in recent years. The ranking in La Liga is eloquent enough as Atletico are at the second place with 8 points ahead of Real Madrid and by only 3 behind the leader Barcelona.
Diego Simeone's players show a fierce ambition to win in each match. This is something we can not say for the host team. Certainly, if the players of Real do not show the top level of play, which is expected of them, this will definitely cause them some serious problems. We should not forget, however, that Real are unbeaten in their last 18 home league games. On the other hand, Atletico have won 11 of their last 12 games in La Liga. Undoubtedly this match will be spectacular. In 24 of the last 28 home games of Real Madrid in the league, there have been over 2.5 goals scored. Moreover, Real`s players have scored at least three goals in 22 out of their last 27 home matches at Santiago Bernabeu. Jose Mourinho's team seems impenetrable as a host as they have been winning first half/final time in their last 5 home games.
The attacking strength of Real seem astonishing at Santiago Bernabeu, but it should be noted that the team of Atletico is performing really well defensively. They haven`t conceded even one goal in their last three games. In six of the last seven league matches of Atletico as a guest there have been under 2.5 goals scored. As far as the goals scoring rate of both teams is concerned, the statistical data is on the contrary - when Real Madrid are the host there are a lot of goals in the match, and when Atletico is the guest, the result is quite the opposite except their visit agains Betis.
Jose Mourinho has a wide range of players and probably the absence of Gonzalo Higuaín, Marcelo and Michael Essien will not affect the course of this match. Diego Simeone has no problems with injured or suspended players as only Cristian Rodríguez is under doubt to play.