Real Madrid have already secured the 2021-22 La Liga title, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing riding on the latest instalment of this fierce rivalry.
Atletico Madrid come into this game in a bitter fight for a Champions League place, sitting in fourth place on 61 points, three back of third-placed Sevilla and three above fifth-placed Real Betis. The hosts would love nothing more than to tighten their grip on a spot in next year’s crowning European competition and earn bragging rights against the title winners in the process.
That is why Atletico Madrid have refused to recognise Real Madrid with a guard of honour before the match, a typical tradition in the Spanish top flight following the league winners clinching the title with games remaining.
Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio gave Real Madrid a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture back in December at the Bernabeu, so Atletico would love to turn that result on its head and earn valuable points in the process.
MORE: Why Atletico Madrid is refusing a guard of honor for Real Madrid league title win
Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Atletico Madrid | – | – | – |
| Real Madrid | – | – | – |
Goals:
None
Commentary:
2 hours before kickoff (7 p.m. local): Gabi scored this incredible goal for Atletico Madrid in March of 2014 in a 2-2 home draw that would begin a four-year stretch of relative success against the local rivals.
Since, it has gone severely downhill. Atletico Madrid have not beaten Real Madrid in any competition since the 2018 UEFA Super Cup final, and not in league play since 2016.
🔱 When Gabi left the Calderón in awe!
😍 What a hit this was…#AtletiRealMadrid | #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/CIfzWgf0k1
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) May 8, 2022
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid lineups
The biggest injury issue for Atletico Madrid is Joao Felix, who has not played since mid-April with a hamstring injury. The Atleti attack has suffered greatly since, with three anaemic displays in the past four league matches. Felix will not play today, aiming for a return in two weeks time.
Midfielder Thomas Lemar is also out with a hamstring injury, and both Mario Hermoso and Reinildo are suspended for yellow card accumulation. Atleti do get defender Stefan Savic back from his suspension and he should start at centre-back.
There could be changes in midfield for the hosts, with Koke and Rodrigo de Paul eyeing a return after being rested last time out in favour of Geoffrey Kondogbia and Hector Herrera.
Atletico Madrid projected starting lineup (3-5-2): Oblak (GK) — Savic, Gimenez, Felipe – Llorente, de Paul, Koke, Lodi – Carrasco, Suarez, Griezmann.
Atletico Madrid subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
For Real Madrid, there remain defensive questions as David Alaba and Eder Militao are both dealing with injuries with unclear statuses for this match. If neither can play, it would be Casemiro to deputize at centre-back again next to Nacho Fernandez. Militao seems the more likely of the two to find himself fit, but still remains undetermined.
With the league title wrapped up and the Champions League final on the horizon, it’s possible that Carlo Ancelotti decides to rest some starters. The likeliest to sit would be one of either Toni Kroos or Luka Modric, although resting both midfield engines in a rivalry match is unlikely. The in-form Eduardo Camavinga would be the likely choice to step in should one of the regulars sit, while Federico Valverde is also an option.
Rodrygo came off the bench to play hero in Champions League semifinal action in midweek and could be in line to start on the wing in place of Marco Asensio, who scored in this rivalry’s reverse fixture.
Real Madrid projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy — Camavinga, Casemiro, Modric – Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
MORE: What teams are in the 2022-23 Champions League?
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Date | Sun, May 8 | Sun, May 8 | Sun, May 8 | Mon, May 9 |
| Time | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 05:00 AET |
| TV channel | La Liga TV | — | TSN1 | beIN Sports 2 |
| Streaming | Amazon Prime | ESPN+ | TSN Direct | bein Connect |
The Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid derby match is available in the United States exclusively on ESPN+.
In the UK, it is available on La Liga TV and streaming on Amazon Prime.
In Canada, the match is both broadcasted and streamed by TSN, while beIN Sports is the provider in Australia.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid betting lines, picks & prediction
Odds via DraftKings (USA) & Sports Interaction (Canada)
It has been quite a while since I’ve seen odds that are this nonsensical. Champions League finalists and confirmed La Liga title holders Real Madrid, who won 2-0 in the reverse fixture and 4-0 last weekend with Casemiro at centre-back, are somehow +255 underdogs against an Atletico Madrid side that has won just one of its last four league matches, scoring two goals in the process.
It’s utterly baffling how that’s played out, almost to the point where it feels like something must be up. The only reason I can think to not bet Real Madrid would be that after clinching the league title, and after the thrashing by Barcelona at the Bernabeu in late March — the club’s only dropped points in its last 10 league matches, mind you — maybe Madrid rests players in league play and the team could be forgiven for looking ahead.
Still, Joao Felix hasn’t played for Atleti since mid-April due to injury, and the attack has suffered greatly. In addition, Angel Correa is in a brutal slump, with just 0.67 expected goals (xG) in his last eight league appearances, along with just 0.52 expected assists (xA) across that same period. Antoine Griezmann is suffering through a similar dry spell, without a goal since November.
There’s only one way this match ends.
Pick: Real Madrid to win to zero (+425 on DraftKings)
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 0-2 Real Madrid
| USA (DraftKings) |
Canada (Sports Interaction) |
UK (SkyBet) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid Win | +110 | +118 | +105 |
| Draw | +255 | +251 | +250 |
| Real Madrid Win | +255 | +209 | +250 |
| Both teams to score Y / N |
-140 / +110 | -147 / -106 | -150 / +110 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals |
-105 / -110 | -111 / -115 | -125 / -110 |
| Atletico Madrid -0.5 | +110 | +103 | – |
| Real Madrid +0.5 | -125 | -132 | – |