Real Madrid: 3 predictions for El Derbi on Sunday

Real Madrid are currently third in La Liga, and they will have a vital fixture this Saturday afternoon at the Wanda Metropolitano against league leaders Atletico Madrid. Although Los Blancos defeated their crosstown rivals 2-0 earlier this year at home, they must be prepared for a much more hard-fought encounter on Saturday on the road, especially if star striker Karim Benzema remains out.

There is uncertainty created by Benzema’s status for Saturday’s match, but here are three predictions for the biggest battle of Matchday 26 in La Liga.

Real Madrid will win the midfield battle

This isn’t a controversial prediction by any means, though the Atleti duo of Saul and Koke has long been among Europe’s best and most frustrating to face.

Real Madrid’s midfield trio is the envy of every other club in Europe, and they have five options they can potentially call upon if they decide to use a formation other than the 4-3-3. That’s because Isco is back in good form after an excellent first half against Real Sociedad, while Fede Valverde returned from an injury to be a star in the second half off the bench.

But the core remains Casemiro, Luka Modric, and quiet Player of the Season candidate Toni Kroos. All three men have the potential to run the show this Saturday, just as Modric and Kroos excelled in the first fixture of the season vs. Atleti.