Madrid rivals Real and Atletico will face off in an exciting Champions League last-16 first leg match at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
The two local teams are currently competing with Barcelona for the top spot in LaLiga in Spain, but they also have big ambitions in Europe this season.
Atletico comfortably made it to the last-16 by finishing fifth in the League Phase. On the other hand, Real had to go through a tough play-off against Manchester City after finishing in 11th place as defending champions.
Team news
Real will be without star player Jude Bellingham due to suspension in the first leg. Additionally, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, and Jesus Vallejo are all sidelined due to injuries, with Federico Valverde also doubtful for the match.
Atletico, on the other hand, have no new injury concerns but will still be missing Cesar Azpilicueta and Koke for the match at the Bernabeu.
The stats
In the league phase, Real won against teams like Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Salzburg, and Brest, but faced defeats from Lille, AC Milan, and Liverpool.
Atletico secured six wins and suffered two losses in the first stage, beating teams like RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain, Sparta Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Bayer Leverkusen, and Salzburg, while losing to Benfica and Lille.
The last three encounters between Real and Atletico ended in 1-1 draws, with both teams scoring 20 goals and conceding 12 in the Champions League group stage.
Real has been victorious in four of their last five home games in all competitions, with Atletico being the only team to hold them to a draw in the recent league match on February 8.
Atletico is currently on a 10-game unbeaten streak, although they have drawn three of their last five matches.
Prediction
Atletico moved two points ahead of Real in the domestic league on Saturday after securing a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, while Real suffered a 2-1 defeat against Real Betis.
Given the contrasting results from the weekend, the visitors may feel encouraged as they prepare to face their city rivals for the third time this season.
Considering both league matches between the two ended in 1-1 draws, another close and intense battle between the Madrid teams is expected.
Real's strong history in the Champions League makes them the favorites to win the first leg, having won the competition a record 15 times. However, Atletico's performance in the league phase indicates they are more than capable of fighting for a draw against their rivals on Tuesday.