How Real Madrid could line up against Atletico

3:06pm on Saturday 6th March 2021
By Stefan Bienkowski

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane will be hoping his injury-ravaged squad will be able to overcome the odds and take a chunk out of Atletico Madrid’s title challenge when the two sides meet on Sunday.

If Los Blancos can win in the Madrid derby they’ll be able to shorten the gap between the two clubs to just two points, with Atletico still having a game in hand.

However, to do that Zidane will have to get a remarkable performance out of a squad that is missing most of its stars.

Zidane’s issues will perhaps be at their worst in defence, where the French coach will still be without Sergio Ramos and Daniel Carvajal. Eder Militao may be fit enough to play but it’s more likely that the Madrid head coach will instead turn to Nacho to partner Raphael Varane, with Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez on either flank.

Madrid have managed to hold most of their season together thanks to the consistency and fitness of their midfield and again Zidane will turn to Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos against their bitter rivals.

The Spanish giants remain hopeful that Karim Benzema will be fit enough to play, despite missing first team training this week. In a bid to support their talisman, Zidane will likely play Marco Assensio and Isco off the striker.