Real Madrid returns to the Santiago Bernabeu for a cracking Madrid derby against Atletico in the quarterfinal stage of the 2022/23 Copa del Rey.
Los Blancos came from two goals down to beat Villarreal 2-3 in the round of 16 stage a day after Los Colchoneros eliminated Levante United from the competition by 2-0.
RMA vs ATM Match Details
Date: Thursday, 26 December 2022 / Friday, 27 December 2022
Time: 21:00 (CET) / 1:30 (IST)
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
RMA vs ATM Match Preview
After playing seven consecutive games away from home, Real Madrid will finally get to play at Santiago Bernabeu for the first time in the new year. In some fashion too as they face their city rivals Atletico for a place in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey or the Spanish cup competitions. The period after the restart was not ideal for Los Blancos as they lost to Villarreal in the league and then surrendered the Spanish Super Cup 3-1 in the final to Barcelona in Riyadh. The Yellow Submarines almost eliminated them from this competition as well having led 2-0 before half-time. Carlo Ancelotti’s men turned it around in the second half with Vinicius Junior getting his first goal since the World Cup before Eder Militao equalised in the 70th minute to open the way for Dani Ceballos to slam home the winner from the edge of the box four minutes from time. It was the sort of comeback win fans have been accustomed to the team. Despite being shaky again, Real Madrid managed to grab a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club at San Mames in La Liga last weekend. The league will be of greater importance to the holders at the moment but keeping the winning run going against the arch-rivals will be equally significant. Los Blancos have failed to even reach the Copa del Rey final over the last eight years and have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage on four occasions during this period. They also have not won this silverware since the 2013-14 season. But they have triumphed in each of their last four home meetings against Atletico so the chance is there to extend that run.
With Diego Simeone’s future still up in the air, Atletico Madrid have seen a reversal of their poor form after the World Cup with only a loss against Barcelona to show in the last eight games in all competitions. In fact, Los Colchoneros have won the rest of the seven games and also kept clean sheets in four. Something they struggled with for the most part of the season. A 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid sent the team to fourth on the La Liga table in a tight battle for the Champions League places where the points gap between the fourth place and the seventh place is just three. Atletico have also comfortably made it to this point in the Copa del Rey, starting with a 2-0 victory over SD Almazan in the first round and overcoming Levante United’s challenge by the same score-line in the last 16. Alvaro Morata and Marcos Llorente got the goals in that victory last weekend while it has been Antoine Griezmann pulling the strings for the side throughout the campaign. Diego Simeone’s men have conceded only one goal in the competition so far and just two in the last five matches but their resilience will be tested hugely against their city rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday. Los Blancos, in a remarkable feat, have scored in every game this season and also found the net in each Madrid derby held at the Bernabeu since 2018. Atletico are waiting for any sort of winning celebration at the opponent’s ground for seven long years, having beaten them only twice in their last 13 competitive meetings across all competitions.
Recent Form (all competitions)
RMA: WWLDL
ATM: WWDLW
Recent Form (Copa del Rey)
RMA: WW
ATM: WWWW
RMA vs ATM Team News
Dani Carvajal, Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez and Eden Hazard are all missing the derby due to their respective injuries. David Alaba has recovered from his leg injury to make it into the squad. Talents like 21-year-old Sergio Arribas and 18-year-old Mario Martin have also been included.
As for Atletico Madrid, Marcos Llorente has trained alone without the ball and looks unlikely to feature on Thursday. However, central defender Jose Gimenez has made a return from a muscle problem which kept him out for the last three matches. Though, he is not likely to be in the starting Xl. Stefan Savic and Sergio Reguilon have returned from suspension. New arrival Memphis Depay can make his debut at some stage of the match.
RMA vs ATM Predicted lineups
RMA: Thibaut Courtois; Nacho Fernandez, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga; Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr
ATM: Jan Oblak; Stefan Savic, Mario Hermoso, Reinildo; Nahuel Molina, De Paul, Koke, Yannick Carrasco; Angel Correa, Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann
RMA vs ATM Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Oblak (7.5)
DEF: Molina (7.5), Militao (8), Hermoso (7), Alaba (7)
MID: Modric (8), Kroos (8), Carrasco (8.5)
FW: Griezmann (8.5), Benzema (9), Vini Jr (9)
Vice-captain: Antoine Griezmann
Captain: Karim Benzema
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