Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid Set for Champions League Clash in Round of 16
Two fierce rivals, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, are set to face off in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu. The match marks another chapter in their storied rivalry, following a recent La Liga encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw. Julian Alvarez gave Atletico the lead from the penalty spot, but Kylian Mbappe equalized early in the second half, leaving both teams trailing Barcelona in the league title race.
Real Madrid advanced to this stage by overcoming Manchester City in the knockout play-offs, despite a lackluster group stage performance. Atletico, on the other hand, enjoyed a strong start to the competition and qualified automatically for the knockout phase.
Atletico head into the tie on the back of a crucial 1-0 victory over Athletic Club, while Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Betis last weekend. The hosts have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, winning just one of their last five La Liga matches.
Here’s 90min’s comprehensive guide to Tuesday’s highly anticipated clash.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid: Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Matches)
Current Form (All Competitions)
| Real Madrid | Atletico Madrid |
|---|---|
| Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid (01/03/25) | Atletico Madrid 1-0 Athletic Club (01/03/25) |
| Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid (26/02/25) | Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid (25/02/25) |
| Real Madrid 2-0 Girona (23/02/25) | Valencia 0-3 Atletico Madrid (22/02/25) |
| Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (19/02/25) | Atletico Madrid 1-1 Celta Vigo (15/02/25) |
| Osasuna 1-1 Real Madrid (15/02/25) | Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (08/02/25) |
How to Watch
| Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1 |
| United States | Paramount+, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, ViX |
| Canada | DAZN Canada |
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham is unavailable for the first leg due to yellow card accumulation, though he has returned to domestic action after serving a two-game ban. Brahim Diaz is expected to continue on the right side of midfield.
Federico Valverde has recovered from a minor hamstring issue and could replace Lucas Vazquez at right-back. Raul Asencio is likely to partner Antonio Rudiger in central defense, with David Alaba sidelined. Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, and Dani Ceballos remain unavailable.
Predicted Real Madrid lineup (4-4-2): Courtois; Valverde, Rudiger, Asencio, Mendy; Brahim, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Rodrygo; Vinicius, Mbappe.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico will be without the experienced duo of Cesar Azpilicueta and Koke due to injuries. Julian Alvarez, who scored the winner against Athletic Club, is set to replace Alexander Sorloth in the starting lineup. Jose Gimenez and Marcos Llorente are also expected to feature.
Predicted Atletico lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann.
Match Preview
Real Madrid showed resilience in their recent draw against Atletico, but their La Liga form has been inconsistent. However, their ability to perform in the Champions League, especially at the Bernabeu, makes them the favorites in this tie.
Atletico Madrid’s tactical discipline and counter-attacking threat could trouble a Madrid side that has struggled defensively without the ball. Despite this, the hosts’ pedigree in Europe and their ability to deliver on the big stage give them the edge.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid
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