Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Team news, Jude Bellingham update, and TV details

Real Madrid heads into the highly anticipated derby against Atletico Madrid with confidence, while Atletico struggles with injuries.

The highly anticipated clash between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Cívitas Metropolitano is set to reignite one of Spanish football's fiercest rivalries. The visitors, Real Madrid, enter the match with a surge of confidence, having secured maximum points in all five of their La Liga games this season. Their good form spilled over into the Champions League, where they clinched a late victory over German club Union Berlin.

On the other hand, Atletico Madrid has yet to find their rhythm in the opening month of the season. However, this can be attributed to a lengthy injury list that has posed significant challenges for manager Diego Simeone. Despite starting with a 3-1 home win against Granada, Atleti was held to a draw at Real Betis, achieved a resounding 7-0 victory at Rayo Vallecano, and suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Valencia in their most recent game. In the Champions League, they kicked off with a 1-1 draw against Lazio, with home goalkeeper Ivan Provedel making a memorable late equalizer for the Serie A club.

Now, all attention turns to the upcoming La Liga clash between the Madrid rivals, which promises to be a fiercely contested affair. However, Atletico Madrid will face the derby with several key players missing due to injuries. Thomas Lemar, club captain Koke, Vitolo, and Reinaldo are among the long-term injury victims. Furthermore, Rodrigo De Paul is a major doubt after sustaining a muscle injury during the international break, and Caglar Soynucu is not expected to return until next month. The absence of Memphis Depay, Pablo Barrios, and Axel Witsel due to their respective injuries adds to the challenges faced by Diego Simeone.

Real Madrid also faces injury concerns of their own, although not on the same scale as their cross-city rivals. Goalkeeper Thibault Courtois and centre-back Eder Militao will both be absent due to cruciate ligament injuries suffered during the summer. There are also doubts surrounding the involvement of Brazil international Vinicius Junior and full-back Dani Carvajal, pending assessments of their fitness.

Both managers, Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid and Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid, express their anticipation for the derby. Ancelotti acknowledges the special nature of these games, highlighting the intensity and quality displayed by the two big teams in the capital. Simeone, on the other hand, emphasizes the difficulty of the game against Real Madrid and his team's determination to find the best approach to face them.

One player to watch in this clash is Real Madrid's England youngster, Jude Bellingham. Since his move from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth around £88.5m, Bellingham has been in sensational form. He marked his competitive debut with a goal against Athletic Bilbao and has since scored six goals and provided one assist in six games across all competitions. His most recent goal secured a dramatic late victory for Real Madrid against Union Berlin in the Champions League.

For fans eager to watch the game, ITV4 will provide live coverage as part of their agreement with La Liga TV. The coverage begins at 7.30pm on ITV4 and ITVX, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.

Share With Others