La Liga 25/26: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Match Preview, Prediction, Schedule, Live Score & Lineups
The first Madrid Derby of the season sees a perfect Real Madrid—topping the league with a 100% record and led by the prolific Kylian Mbappé—travel to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. They face a struggling Atlético Madrid currently languishing in ninth place. For Diego Simeone’s men, this derby is a crucial opportunity to ignite their season and close the already significant nine-point gap to their city rivals.
Kick-Off and Match Details
Competition - Round: La Liga EA Sports - Matchweek 7
Kick-off (GMT): 14:15, Saturday, September 27, 2025
Stadium, Location: Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas
Match Facts and Key Numbers
Real Madrid's Perfect Start: Los Blancos enter the match with a perfect record in the league (6 wins from 6 matches).
Atlético's Home Advantage: Despite their inconsistent form, Atlético is unbeaten in their last five La Liga meetings with Real Madrid at home.
La Liga Draws: The last three La Liga derbies between the two sides have all finished with a 1-1 draw.
Attacking Firepower: Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé leads the league with 7 goals in 6 games.
Home Side’s Hope: Atlético’s Julián Álvarez is in form, having scored a hat-trick in their midweek 3-2 comeback victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Defensive Concerns: Atlético’s defensive solidity has wavered, having kept only one clean sheet this season, a major concern against Madrid’s front line.
Head-to-Head (All-Time): Real Madrid traditionally dominates with 117 wins to Atlético's 60 wins and 63 draws in 240 meetings.
Injury List: Real Madrid is hit hard in defense with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, and Ferland Mendy all sidelined.
Match Prediction
This derby pits Real Madrid's devastating attacking momentum against Atlético's historical defensive resilience, likely leading to a high-tempo, competitive affair despite the difference in league position. While the recent league head-to-head record heavily favours draws, Real Madrid's current perfect form and the goal-scoring prowess of Mbappé and Vinícius Junior appear too strong for an injury-hit Atlético defence. Expect Diego Simeone's side to make it tough, but ultimately, the visitors should edge it.
