Big Game Focus: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

The UEFA Super Cup will be an all-Spanish affair as two city rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid square off.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will go head to head on today as they contest for the UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn. This fixture is coming as Real Madrid are going through a difficult time. From the departure of Zinedine Zidane that was followed closely by that of the legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo, to the latest controversy around the appointment of Julen Lopetegui as head coach, it has been a strange summer for Los Blancos.

Atletico Madrid for their part will be missing some of their crucial players, most notable among them being World Cup winner Antoine Griezman. He returned to training last week alongside Lucas Hernandez. Thomas Lemar could make his debut but he will most likely come on from the bench early in the second half.

The last time the two teams met was in Europe was in the 2016/17 Champions League semi-finals where each team won the home game but Real emerged on top courtesy of their 3-0 win at the Bernabeu.

Betting preview

Real Madrid have seen Over 2.5 Goals in all their last five fixtures and we expect the trend to continue when they face their city rivals. There is good value in backing Over 2.5 Goals at odds of 2.05 here.

Real Madrid have lost once in five meetings with the Colchoneros and three of those fixtures have ended in stalemates. You can back a Double chance for a Real Win or Draw at odds of 1.40 here.

Gareth Bale has been very influential lately and he has gotten his name on the scoresheet in Real’s last three fixtures. He has more responsibility to score goals and you can back him for the anytime Goalscorer market at odds of 2.65 here.

Team news

Luka Modric is likely to be on the bench for this game after taking part in just 15 minutes of Real Madrid’s pre-season fixtures. Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema have all been heavily involved. Thibaut Courtois is expected to sit this one out as he has had little time to train with the squad.

Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez could start from the bench here after returning to training last week. Thomas Lemar came back early from his holiday and has been involved in plenty of pre-season action. Fellow new arrival Nikola Kalinic could start up front though, along with Gelson Martins and Santiago Arias.

Probable line-ups

Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos, Bale, Isco, Asensio, Benzema.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Arias, Gimenez, Godin, Luis, Koke, Partey, Niguez, Lemar, Gelson, Kalinic