‘El Derbi Madrileno’ will be the highlight of Saturday night for many football enthusiasts not only in Spain but around the world. At the Santiago Bernabeu, the home team, the Blancos, welcome their implacable city rival, Atletico. Historically more successful Real will aim for the 116th victory in the Madrid clash, and the current form and the last match between them are in their favor. Real and Atletico played each other about a month ago, in the quarterfinals of the Spanish Cup. The duel offered a lot of interesting things, Rodrygo led the great fight to extra time, who canceled Morata’s goal ten minutes before the end and tied the game at 1:1. Atletico took an early lead and for a long time it looked as if one goal would be enough for them to make a rather surprising breakthrough to the finals of the competition, but the opposite happened. In overtime, the Blancos dealt two blows to Atletico and advanced after the final score was 3:1. The decisive goal was scored by Karim Benzema in the 103rd minute.Real Madrid are undefeated in their last 8 home games against Atletico Madrid in all competitions. The last defeat at the Bernabéu dates back to February 2016. 📊 pic.twitter.com/FMtijJPq54— Infinite Madrid (@InfiniteMadrid) February 25, 2023 Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been relatively successful since then. Real won the Club World Cup and smoothly defeated Osasuna, Elche and Valencia in the league. Surprisingly, they were beaten by Mallorca and drew goalless with Sociedad in a tough match. However, the Blancos recorded a very valuable victory four days ago, when they faced the Reds in the Champions League at Anfield and destroyed them 5-2.Atlético had gone 25 games and over 13 years without beating Real Madrid. They put that to an end by winning the Copa del Rey final in 2013 💪(via @deportes_rtve)pic.twitter.com/0PJ3Ttozn2— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 24, 2023 In the Spanish Championship, Diego Simeone’s team is in fourth place after 22 rounds, two points behind Sociedad, and Betis, who have four points less, and are breathing down their necks. In the last five league matches, the Atletico managed to win four times, and the only, but very surprising, draw happened to them against the then penultimate Getafe. Otherwise, they managed to defeat Celta, Osasuna and Valladolid without conceding a single goal. Last week they won against Athletic Bilbao which was their 12th league win, and in the Primera since November, they have lost only one game against the leader of the competition, Barcelona.Real Madrid, Arsenal and Newcastle are drooling over “the new Haaland”David Alaba, just like Rodrygo, is recovering from a muscle injury, and will not be able to join the Blancos in the crucial duel. Ferland Mendy is also out. On the other hand, Rodrigo de Paul has a problem with his thigh, which he picked up in the last match with Bilbao. Simeone will be without Thomas Lemar for today’s match. It will be interesting to see how Carlo Ancelotti will prepare his chosen ones for the derby after the “firecracker” at Anfield. After such an emotional discharge, it takes time for the team to return to the top level. Admittedly, Real is not an ordinary team and that has been proven countless times so far. After all, we are talking about the current champion of Europe and the world, a club that is used to winning all the competitions it plays.Don Carletto: I have to do just one thing – to win gamesReal is under a greater pressure. While Atletico have played four matches since that last derby, Real have had eight. Five championships – three wins and a draw and a loss – two at the Club World Cup in Morocco – two wins – and the aforementioned duel in England. They play their matches every three days, with the exception of after returning from the world tour, when they had four days to rest until the meeting with Elche. In fact, since the end of the World Cup break in Qatar, Ancelotti’s men have been playing in every three or four days. Now they had five days of rest for the first time. Of the last six Madrid derbies, Real have won four, and one ended in a draw, with one victory for Atletico.LA LIGA – ROUND 23FridayElche – Betis 2-3 (2-0)/Fidel 7 pen, Boye 9 – Iglesias 65 pen, Miranda 68, Willian 90+6 pen/Saturday16:00: (2.50) Espanyol (3.00) Mallorca (3.20)18:15: (2.95) Cadiz (2.90) Rayo Vallecano (2.75)20:30: (1.89) Real Madrid (3.70) Atl.Madrid (4.60)23:00: (3.00) Valencia (3.15) Sociedad (2.55)Sunday16:00: (1.79) Ath.Bilbao (3.50) Girona (5.10)18:15: (1.75) Celta (3.70) Valladolid (5.90)20:30: (7.25) Almeria (4.40) Barcelona (1.49)23:00: (1.99) Sevilla (3.30) Osasuna (4.20)Monday23:00: (1.73) Villareal (3.50) Getafe (5.60)***odds are subject to change***