Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid La Liga Match Preview, Vicente Calderon, Madrid Spain, 10 AM EST Sunday March 2, 2014
By Jason Green, Soccer Handicapper, Predictem.com
Match Odds: Atletico Madrid 3.40 / Real Madrid 2.10 / Draw 3.40
Moneyline: Atletico Madrid +340 / Real Madrid +240 / Draw +110
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
Real Madrid is on a team, which is an understatement, and with their hot play they now are all alone atop the La Liga table with a 3 points lead over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Real has won not lost in their last 16 matches, have won their last 3 league matches, and they are coming off a 6-1 drubbing over Schalke in Germany in their last match.
Atletico Madrid would be tied with Real, but they lost 3-0 in their last match to Osasuna, who sit in 12th place in the league table.
While Atletico Madrid already beat Real this season in league play they lost to them 2-0 in their last meeting in the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be back for this match after serving a 3-match suspension and in his first action back facing Schalke in the Champions League match he scored 2 goals.
Even with Ronaldo in the sidelines for the last 3 La Liga matches the Real offense, which has scored the most goals in the league, has scored 10 goals.
Atletico Madrid will have a tough task on defense not only dealing with Ronaldo, but also Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, as these 3 have combined for 46 goals in the league season. On top of that all 3 of these netted 2 goals in the recent win over Schalke. While Atletico Madrid has conceded the fewest goals in league play they looked far from solid in the loss to Osasuna.
Atletico Madrid was blacked in their last match and in their last 5 matches they have only scored 4 goals and 3 came in one match. Real’s defense has been just as good as their offense as of late with 2 clean sheets in their last 2 league matches and in their last 8 league matches they have only given up 3 goals.
Diego Costa, who has cored the 2nd most goals in the league, and David Villa have combined for 32 goals this season and have to get back on track facing an in-form Real defense.
The Atletico defense looked for from solid in the loss to Osasuna, but before that match they had been playing well. Even in the 2-0 home loss to Real in Copa del Rey play both goals came off penalties. Atletico must be more careful in their box and give Real easy scoring chances from the penalty spot.
Luka Modric has been playing well in the midfield for Real and if he can help his squad control the ball they will be tough to beat. Atletico must pounce on counter-attack, since Real will press the issue on offense to try to bag 3 points.
Real is in the lead in La Liga, but they have not beaten Barcelona or Atletico in league play this season.
Real Madrid has an Over/Under 2.5 goals record of 7-3 in their last 10 matches and Atletico Madrid is 5-5.
Atletico Madrid Recent Form
2/8/2014 Almeria 2 Atletico Madrid 0 (La Liga)
2/11/2014 Atletico Madrid 0 Real Madrid 2 (Copa del Rey)
2/15/2014 Atletico Madrid 3 Real Valladolid 0 (La Liga)
2/19/2014 AC Milan 0 Atletico Madrid 1 ( UEFA Champions League)
2/23/2014 Osasuna 3 Atletico Madrid 0 ( La Liga)
Real Madrid Recent Form
2/8/2014 Real Madrid 4 Villarreal 2 (La Liga)
2/11/2014 Atletico Madrid 0 Real Madrid 2 (Copa del Rey)
2/16/2014 Getafe 0 Real Madrid 3 (La Liga)
2/2/2/2014 Real Madrid 3 Elche 0 (La Liga)
2/26/2014 Schalke 04 1 Real Madrid 6 (UEFA Champions League)
Jason’s Pick to Win: Real is simply on fire and while Atletico typically plays them close they have no chance in this match. With Ronaldo back and a defense that is in top form Real will win this match by a score of 2-0 or 3-0.