Who will win the city derby?
When Madrid’s two big clubs face off in the city derby, a fiery atmosphere is guaranteed—especially when the two coaches are Diego Simeone and José Mourinho. The longtime coach of the “Colchoneros” has gotten his team off to a solid start this season; after six games, they have 13 points and sit in third place in the standings. His counterpart on the bench for the “Royals” has also had a largely satisfactory start to his second tenure with the “White Ballet,” posting five wins and suffering just one loss—against Betis. So which of the two teams should you bet on in the Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid match?
The favorite in this matchup is, of course, the visiting team. The 63-year-old Portuguese coach’s star-studded squad, accustomed to success, boasts tremendous individual talent and clearly aims to win every derby. However, the bookmakers are well aware of this, which is why they aren’t offering attractive odds for a Real Madrid victory in the Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid match. The team’s lackluster performance against Elche earlier this week further reinforces the case against betting on Mourinho’s squad.
It seems much more worthwhile to bet on a win for Diego Simeone’s team. Although they are the underdogs in this matchup, they have often been able to hold their own against their great rival recently, especially in home games. In eight of their last ten home matches against Real Madrid, they’ve avoided defeat. Accordingly, for Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid, a “1X” bet is recommended.
In addition to betting on the home team to earn at least a point, there’s also an opportunity to place a bet on the number of goals scored. If you take the overwhelmingly dominant players from FC Barcelona out of the equation, this derby pits the league’s two best offenses against each other. Both the “White Ballet” and the “Colchoneros” average well over two goals per game, and the ball has frequently found the back of the net in their most recent head-to-head matchups.
Another factor pointing to a high-scoring game is Jonathan David. Atlético’s summer signing has recently hit his stride this season and immediately repaid the trust placed in him during his first two extended appearances, contributing two goals and an assist in under 100 minutes. The Canadian particularly shone in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Osasuna with a stellar performance and two goals.
Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid Head-to-Head Record
Sure, Real has the edge in head-to-head matchups. But the recent home games against their archrival give Atlético reason for hope. They’ve lost only two of their last ten games at home and have even managed to win five times.
Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid Prediction
In the first Madrid derby of the new season, the “White Ballet” is naturally the favorite. However, since the Royal squad—despite five wins in six games—hasn’t always been convincing lately and has won only two of its last ten games at the Metropolitano, it’s better to bet on Atlético earning at least a point.
Alternatively, a goal bet is also a good option—after all, two potent offenses are facing off in this match. Jonathan David, in particular, is one to watch. The 26-year-old Canadian has been in impressive form lately and is a strong candidate to score.
