Madrid Derby Set Amid Injury Concerns for Real Madrid

Real Madrid faces a significant challenge as they prepare to face local rivals Atletico Madrid in the Madrid Derby on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The derby comes amid a competitive La Liga season, with Real Madrid currently trailing league leaders Barcelona by four points. The match will take place at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. CEST (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT).

However, Los Blancos will be without their recent star acquisition Kylian Mbappe, who is sidelined due to a thigh injury. This absence marks a crucial setback, as Mbappe has been instrumental in Real’s offense. His injury is expected to keep him out for three weeks. Additionally, key players such as Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos, and David Alaba are also unavailable, adding to Real Madrid’s injury woes.

Atletico Madrid, under the management of Diego Simeone, remains a strong contender and currently holds third place in the league standings, just two points behind Real. They aim to leapfrog their city rivals with a victory. Atletico remains unbeaten so far, with four wins and three draws, bolstered by the promising performances of Conor Gallagher, who recently joined from Chelsea.

Julian Alvarez‘s recent performance has been a highlight for Atletico, including a late winner against Celta Vigo. Their defense has been robust, conceding only three goals this season and maintaining five clean sheets.

Despite being defending La Liga champions, Real Madrid aims to cement its position at the top. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rely on the attacking duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. with Jude Bellingham supporting from the midfield. Real Madrid’s offensive prowess has been evident, scoring 16 goals so far this season and remaining unbeaten in their last 39 La Liga games.

The match promises a vibrant spectacle, with Atletico having won two of the last five encounters against Real and handing them a defeat in the last season’s La Liga. Atletico’s projected starting lineup may include Oblak, Le Normand, Gimenez, Reinildo, Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Lino, Griezmann, and Alvarez. Real Madrid’s projected starting team includes Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy, Valverde, Tchouameni, Modric, Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Jr.

The match will be accessible to viewers globally through various broadcasters. In the U.S., ESPN Plus holds the streaming rights, while viewers in the UK can tune into ITV or Premier Sports for live coverage. Canadian fans can watch via TSN Plus, and in Australia, BeIn Sports holds the broadcast rights. VPN services such as ExpressVPN are recommended for accessing streams from different regions.