Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Match preview | OneFootball

Less than 72 hours after picking up an important La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid turn their attention back to the UEFA Champions League as they take on Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday’s second leg in the round of 16 of the competition.

Having already picked up a 2-1 success at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in last week’s first leg, the Whites need to avoid defeat in the upcoming bout to secure passage to the quarter-final.

From a fitness standpoint, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, Eder Militao and Jesus Vallejo are set to remain absent although Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois are set to return having been left out of the Rayo game due to a flu and minor fitness issue, respectively. Jude Bellingham will also be back at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal having missed the first leg owing to a suspension.

Atletico Madrid come into the game after ceding a 1-0 lead in La Liga versus Getafe at the weekend away from home. Jose Bordalas’ side struck twice in quick succession late during the game as Los Rojiblancos lost for the second time on the trot in all competitions. They will look to make amends against Los Merengues on home soil and will need to win by at least a two-goal margin to overturn the tie.

For Atletico’s upcoming Champions League challenge, Koke is likely to miss out due to a muscular problem while Clement Lenglet and Rodrigo De Paul are facing a race against time to be fit as well.

There are no suspensions in the home side’s camp, so Diego Simeone will very be expected to field his best starting eleven without any massive surprises to his team selection on Wednesday.

Offensively for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe will be the players to look for after they struck in Real’s win at the weekend after performing poorly in the first leg. The duo have an imperious record in the knockout phases of the Champions League, which the Los Blancos faithful will hope is extended against their crosstown rivals in another important clash.

Atletico Madrid also have their fair share of potency in the final third with Julian Alvarez scoring in the first leg. It was the Argentine international’s seventh goal in the European Cup this season.

Apart from him, Alexander Sorloth and Antoine Griezmann are also capable options who can cause harm to the visitors, especially given that the former scored four against them last season while playing for Villarreal.

The man in the middle for the Madrid derby is the experienced Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak, who last officiated Los Blancos in their league phase game against Atalanta in December.

An exciting battle between the two Spanish giants is set to ensue, which Real Madrid will look to come away from with a berth in the quarter-final of the Champions League, where they will potentially face Arsenal or PSV Eindhoven.