Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid 2019 La Liga Odds & Game Preview

The Madrid Derby (or El Derbi Madrileno) is a rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid that will be renewed once again on Saturday. The two teams met for the first time on December 2, 1906, as Real Madrid delivered a 2-1 win. Most recently, the two sides met in the 2019 International Champions Cup, a summer exhibition tournament designed to help the top international soccer clubs warm up for the coming season (and make some money in the process), and Atletico rolled to a 7-3 rout. The two teams meet for the first time in La Liga play for 2019-20 on Saturday. Can Real Madrid get revenge for that ICC humiliation? Or will Atletico win again? We have your soccer betting preview right here.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid 2019 La Liga Odds & Game Preview

When: Saturday, September 28, 2019, 3:00pm ET Where: Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid TV: beIN Sports Radio: None Soccer Odds: PK

Why should you bet on Real Madrid?

Real Madrid, along with Athletic Bilbao, is one of two unbeaten teams in La Liga after six matches, with 14 points so far. Atletico Madrid sits one point back of Real Madrid, having taken a 2-0 road loss at Real Sociedad two weeks ago. Ever since Real Madrid took a 3-0 beating from Paris St-Germain in Champions League group play on September 18, they have posted a pair of clean sheets, beating Sevilla on the road, 1-0, and blanking Osasuna at home, 2-0. In that win over Osasuna, the hosts got a goal from Vinicius Junior in the 36th minute and then added the insurance tally by Rodrygo in the 72nd minute. Real possessed for 55 percent of the match against Osasuna, outshooting the visitors 15-4 (4-0 on target). That shutdown defense is what Real was missing against PSG but is what has emerged in the two matches since then. Obviously, Sevilla and Osasuna are not elite La Liga competition, but putting together that kind of play will prove crucial if Real wants to stay at the top of the table. The disarray that marked Real’s play during the International Champions Cup seems to have subsided, at least for now.

Why should you put your money on Atletico Madrid?

Since that loss to Real Sociedad, Atletico has drawn at home against Juventus, 2-2, in Champions League play, drawn at home against Celta Vigo and then beaten RCD Mallorca on the road, 2-0, despite finishing a man down. RCD Mallorca is near the bottom of the La Liga table, and so that match gave Atletico the chance to work out some frustrations. Diego Costa scored in the 26th minute, and then Joao Felix added a second goal in the 64th. Unfortunately, Alvaro Morata was shown a red card in the 77th minute and will miss this match due to a suspension. Atletico did not dominate the match statistically as much as one might have expected, given the poor showing that RCD Mallorca has put forth so far this year. They only possessed for 52 percent of the match and outshot the hosts 13-9 (3-2 on target). However, they were not able to disrupt many passing lanes, as RCD Mallorca completed 80 percent of their passes. If you like Atletico you see the motivation of the Madrid Derby taking hold, and the fact that the match is a home fixture pushing Atletico out of their funk.

Final Score Prediction

Real Madrid has come a long way since the subpar performances they put forth in the International Champions Cup. I’m not sure if I see them picking up the road win in the derby, but a draw is definitely worth considering. This rivalry has produced 22 combined goals in the last five matches, so taking the “over” here is a smart pick. I predict a final score of Real 3, Atletico 3.