La Liga Match Preview: Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid

Posted on April 27, 2013 by SoccerPunter

The Madrid derby,  Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid, is considered as one of the most important football matches in Spain Primera Division (La Liga).

Tonight these two Spanish clubs will be fighting for the second placing of La Liga table, to secure automatic qualification for Champions League next season.

Real Madrid are leading Atlético Madrid by 3 points only. So if Real Madrid lose, they will be level on points.

Real Madrid‘s top goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be absent in the Saturday’s derby against Atlético Madrid. Ronaldo has picked up a thigh injury after Wednesday 4-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund for the Champions League semi-final.

The past H2H stats revealed that Real Madrid have a terrific winning record at Atlético Madrid home ground. It was in June 1999, or nearly 14 years ago when Atlético Madrid beat Real Madrid at Estadio Vicente Calderón. Analyze the H2H stats here.Resting Ronaldo gives him an extra three days to recover in time for the second leg against Dortmund on Tuesday.

Real need to get a result in the derby to maintain their hold on second place in La Liga with their city rivals just three points behind in third.

Ronaldo, the top scorer in the Champions League this season with 12 goals, had been thought to be certain to start against Dortmund in the Bernabeu but Friday’s news has caused some to question that theory.

“At Real they said the Portuguese was sure to play in the semi-final second leg but Friday’s training session has instilled some doubt,” sports paper Marca said on their internet site.