Matchday Preview: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Betting Odds

Real Madrid Primed for Letdown

It’s been a wild week for Real Madrid. First, they clinched the La Liga title vs Espanyol and then overturned a two-goal deficit vs Manchester City to advance to the Champions League final. So, Atletico Madrid, who still haven’t clinched a Champions league berth, may be getting Los Blancos at a good time in La Liga. The Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid betting odds echo that sentiment as Atleti are slightly favored in Sunday’s Derbi Madrileño.

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Preview

• Location: Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
• Date & Time: Sunday 3 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN+

Head-to-Head

Last Five La Liga Meetings:

• Dec 2021: Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
• Mar 2021: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid
• Dec 2020: Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
• Feb 2020: Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid
• Sep 2019: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid

Real Madrid have dominated the Madrid derby lately and are undefeated in the last eight meetings in all competitions. A solid recent Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid betting tip has been to take the under. That’s because all of the last five La Liga meetings have finished with two goals or fewer.

In December, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio were on target as Real Madrid won at the Santiago Bernabeu. It was the fifth time in the last six matchups in all competitions that Real shut out Atletico.

Frustrating Inconsistency from Atletico Madrid

• Premier League Position: 4th, 61 pts
• Form (All Competitions): L,D,W,D,L
• Injuries and Suspensions: D Mario Hermoso (suspension), D Reinildo Mandava (suspension), F Joao Felix (muscle), M Thomas Lemar (muscle)

With just one win in their last six matches in all competitions, Atletico Madrid have struggled lately. Neither Luis Suarez nor Antoine Griezmann have been in good goal-scoring form and Joao Felix was ruled out for the season a few weeks back.

Just three points ahead of fifth-place Real Betis, Atletico Madrid dropped their most recent match 2-0 to Athletic Bilbao. Atletico have underperformed the recent betting odds for La Liga and have failed to cover their spread in their last four league matches.

This game will mean much more to them than Real Madrid, but it’ll hurt to have starting defenders Mario Hermoso and Reinildo out. Diego Simeone’s side has been very inconsistent this season, pushing Man City to the wire in the Champions League quarterfinal, but falling to the likes of Mallorca and drawing with relegation-threatened Granada. They’ll need as many points as they can get in the last four matches to clinch a UCL berth.

Jubilation for Real Madrid

• La Liga Position: 1st, 81 pts
• Form (All Competitions): W,W,L,W,W
• Injuries and Suspensions: D David Alaba (adductor), F Gareth Bale (back), F Eden Hazard (ankle), M Isco (discomfort)

Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal second leg was one of the most stunning games in recent memory. Manchester City had a 4-3 lead coming into the match, on aggregate, and took the lead in the second half of the second leg through Riyad Mahrez. Pep Guardiola subbed out both Kevin de Bruyne and Mahrez and it looked like the Citizens would be playing in a second straight UCL final.

Then, the unthinkable happened and Real Madrid substitute Rodrigo scored two goals within the span of 90 seconds before the final whistle. Real looked done and dusted but mounted yet another comeback and forced the tie into extra time. In the first period of extra time, Karim Benzema came through once again, winning a penalty and converting past Ederson.

Carlo Ancelotti used all of his six subs and a rag-tag group of players were able to stave off Manchester City and pull off the most improbable of comebacks. Real will now face Liverpool in a much-anticipated final in a few weeks’ time.

The incredibly draining second leg followed the La Liga title clincher for Real Madrid and it wouldn’t be surprising if they coast a bit to recuperate from a crazy week. Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid betting odds currently list Real as +265 underdogs coming into Sunday.

What to Watch

Atletico are winless vs Real in La Liga since 2016, but this is arguably their best opportunity since then to get a win. This is typically a fiery derby match and while it may be toned down a bit, it’s very important for Atletico to get a win. First, they’ll have to get on the scoresheet, which has been a rarity vs Real.

The Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid betting odds list Atleti’s O/U goal total at 1½, but they’ve averaged well under a half-goal per game in the last 10 La Liga meetings. Understandably, this match is listed as a pick’em, with Atletico seen as the more likely side to win.

The odds board is pretty even moneyline-wise as Atletico are priced at even while a draw is listed at +265. No outcome would be surprising here and it’s difficult to know what kind of Real Madrid side Ancelotti, who recently became the first manager to win a title in all five top European leagues, will name.