Real Madrid take on Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu this evening with both teams knowing a defeat will leave their hopes of catching Barcelona in the league over.
Los Blancos sit third in the table, nine points behind the league leaders, while Atletico are second, a point better off than their hosts this evening.
Manager Zinedine Zidane told his press conference yesterday that defeat would not be the end of the road in the title race but it would take a spectacular collapse by Barcelona and Real dropping next to no more points to turn it around.
Tonight’s visitors have an excellent recent record against the 10-time Champions League winners having avoided defeat in 10 of the last 11 derby games. They have won the last two league encounters at the Bernabeu and ended Real’s title hopes with a 4-0 thrashing at the Calderon last February.
In terms of team news, Zidane will be without the services of Marcelo, Pepe and Gareth Bale once more meaning it should be a similar line up that drew with Malaga last weekend.
Diego Simeone’s men have found the net just once in their past three games, something that is a slight concern for Los Rojiblancos. José María Giménez is welcomed back from suspension while Antoine Griezmann should be fit to start.
Probable line-ups:
Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Carvajal; Kroos, Modric, Isco; James, Benzema, Ronaldo
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Godín, Giménez, Luís; Saúl, Augusto, Gabi, Koke; Vietto, Griezmann
