The Madrid derby will take centre-stage in the La Liga on Sunday, when Atletico Madrid host Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.
Both Real Madrid and Atletico will be buoyed after Barcelona dropped points on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Sevilla. A victory for Real Madrid and Rafa Benitez's men will go back to the top of La Liga, which will be their primary aim come matchtime on Sunday.
"Our plan going into this game is to win," Real Madrid manager Benitez, who should have Gareth Bale return to the lineup, said. "That can be achieved through different means. By pushing forward, being patient.
"Atletico are a great side, a great club and they've been doing really well over the last few years. We know we're up against a great team, one that is very well managed, and there's the extra incentive of this being a derby game. We have faith in our abilities, we're really focused but so too are they.
"Above all else, this game is going to be filled with character and passion, as you'd expect from a derby. They're a good team. They're well organised, play with intensity and have plenty of quality.
"We know it's going to be very tough and that we'll need to respond to them with character and personality, try to play our football and continue doing things as we have been up until now, which has allowed us to pick up good results."
Atletico Madrid are currently fifth, a place and two points behind Real, and a victory will take them level with Barcelona and Celta Vigo, who are a point off the leaders Villarreal.
Diego Simeone has shown he is great at setting his team up perfectly for these big matches on quite a few occasions, and you can expect a match where Atletico Madrid frustrate Real for large periods of the game. Getting that counter-attacking goal, though, might not be that simple this time around, because, as Real have shown already this season, they are a lot more assured defensively under Benitez.
Also working against Atletico Madrid is the fact that they are going into this match on the back of consecutive defeats. "We have to see the positive things from the last two games we've lost and correct the negatives," Simeone said. "We're always thinking of the positive things.
"We create quite a few chances and that's not easy, especially in the Champions League. Nothing of what's happening to us is a complete surprise to me. We knew the first 10 games of the season would be tough, with difficult opponents home and away, plus we have a lot of young lads who we need to incorporate into the team in the best way possible.
"We're working very well. In that regard, the team is doing very well and we finish games better than our opponents."
Another key point in this match will be Cristiano Ronaldo and his goalscoring record. While there is some confusion about the amount of goals Ronaldo scored – Real Madrid believe he has already surpassed Raul as their leading goalscorer, while the official records state he is only level following two goals against Malmo in the Champions League – all that confusion will be cleared up for good, if the Portuguese gets a goal against Atletico on Sunday.
Where to Watch Live
Get the highlights of the Madrid derby HERE
Read about Brendan Rodgers getting the sack HERE
Get the Arsenal vs Manchester United highlights HERE
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid is scheduled for an 8.30 pm local time (12 am pm IST, 7.30 pm BST, 2.30 pm ET) start. Sony Kix and Sony Six HD will show the La Liga match live in India, with the online live streaming option on Livsports.
Audience in the Middle East, North Africa, USA, Canada and Australia will be able to watch Real Madrid play Atletico Madrid live on Bein Sports, while the live stream option is on Bein Sports Connect. Spain viewers can catch the match live on Canal+ and Movistar.
Viewers in the UK can watch the La Liga match live on Sky Sports1, while the action can also be live streamed on Sky Go.
