90min

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup vs Real Madrid - La Liga

By Grey Whitebloom

Diego Simeone has faced Real Madrid more often than any other club in his managerial career (35 times)
Diego Simeone has faced Real Madrid more often than any other club in his managerial career (35 times) / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
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Atletico Madrid host fierce rivals Real Madrid in La Liga's capital derby on Sunday evening.

A guard of honour is traditionally bestowed upon the team in their first match following confirmation of their league title. However, Atletico have categorically ruled out "this attempt at ridicule" in the latest example of this seemingly harmless ritual taking a spiky twist.

Here's the XI Diego Simeone may deploy that have no intention whatsoever - just to get it clear - of applauding Real onto the pitch.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup vs Real Madrid

1. 4-3-3

Jan Oblak (GK) - Out of his 13 La Liga meetings with Real Madrid, Oblak has been part of just one win.

Marcos Llorente (RB) - The Atletico Madrid machine has Real coursing through his veins. On top of the 11 years he spent rising through their ranks, Llorente is the son, grandson, nephew and great-nephew of past Los Blancos players.

Stefan Savic (CB) - Since the summer of 2020, Savic has collected as many La Liga yellow cards (24) as he racked up during his first five years in the Spanish capital.

Jose Maria Gimenez (CB) - The heir to Diego Godin's throne as Atletico's Uruguayan centre-back hasn't been fit for a Madrid derby in La Liga since September 2019, earning a clean sheet and a point with a 0-0 draw.

Renan Lodi (LB) - In the expected absence of the suspended Reinildo and Mario Hermoso, Simeone may well field a back-four, which does rob some of the attacking freedom Lodi enjoys.

Rodrigo de Paul (CM) - No outfield player with more than a handful of La Liga minutes favours one foot more than De Paul who insists on playing 98% of his passes with his right boot (per FBref).

Geoffrey Kondogbia (CM) - With 12 yellow cards and two reds in La Liga alone, discipline hasn't been Kondogbia's strong suit this term.

Koke (CM) - Atletico's captain has contested 32 Madrid derbies, three short of the club record held by Adelardo.

Angel Correa (RW) - Atletico's leading La Liga scorer has faced city rivals Real 17 times but is yet to find the back of the net in a derby.

Matheus Cunha (ST) - With Joao Felix injured and Luis Suarez repeatedly overlooked for Atletico's big games, Simeone may turn to the dynamic Brazilian.

Antoine Griezmann (LW) - In a constantly shifting setup, Griezmann is one of the few that can be tenuously called regulars after starting six of Atletico's last seven league games.

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