Madrid seeks revenge after a prior defeat, with both teams advancing in the Champions League.
Real Madrid will host Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, March 22, in a key La Liga fixture. Madrid aims to reduce the four-point gap to Barcelona at the top of the table.
Real Madrid recently advanced in the Champions League by defeating Manchester City 2-1 in the second leg, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory. Vinicius Junior scored twice, including a penalty, helping Madrid overcome the challenge despite City's efforts.
Atletico Madrid progressed to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 7-5 aggregate win over Tottenham Hotspur, despite losing the second leg 3-2. Julian Alvarez scored for Atletico in that match.
Team News for Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe returns from a knee injury and is expected to start alongside Vinicius Junior. However, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss the game due to a muscle injury, with Andriy Lunin stepping in. Eder Militao, Dani Ceballos, and Rodrygo are also ruled out due to injuries.
Team News for Atletico Madrid
Atletico's lineup details were not specified, but the team remains focused on multiple competitions, including the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad. They hold third place in La Liga, 13 points ahead of fifth-place Real Betis.
In their last La Liga meeting in September 2025, Atletico defeated Madrid 5-2 at the Metropolitano Stadium. Historically, the teams have met 242 times, with Real Madrid winning 124, Atletico 60, and 58 draws.
Atletico is unbeaten in their last six league games against Madrid, including four draws, and has lost only once in their last eight La Liga encounters. Their most recent match was a Spanish Super Cup semifinal in January, which Madrid won 2-1.
