Real Madrid will be out to beat rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga for the first time in two years this weekend and keep pace with Barcelona.

Los Blancos secured a treble of trophies last season but their noisy neighbours have had the derby bragging rights in recent times.

Real Madrid’s last two wins over Atleti in all competitions have both needed extra-timeGetty

Carlo Ancelotti‘s men were prevented from an invincible La Liga campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Atleti almost exactly 12 months ago.

Real Madrid responded to that September 2023 setback by not losing another game in the Spanish top-flight.

However, their city rivals dumped them out of the Copa del Rey in January and are unbeaten in the team’s last three La Liga meetings.

Madrid’s unprecedented success in Spain and across Europe has put less emphasis on the allure of beating Diego Simeone‘s men.

This season is different as the Champions League winners have made a slow start to their domestic crown and could find themselves seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona with another slip-up.

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Lions in wait

The first Madrid derby of the 2024/25 season will be a historic one for England fans as Conor Gallagher and Jude Bellingham face off.

The Three Lions teammates will line up on either side of the El Derbi Madrileno to alter the record books after a 95-year wait.

Since La Liga’s inception in 1929, two English players haven’t been on the opposing side of the Spanish capital showdown.

Gallagher is only the second Briton to play for Atletico in the modern era after ex-Three Lions teammate Kieran Trippier.

The Newcastle defender himself was himself the first since before the Spanish Civil War when a striker known only as Drinkwater played three games for the Rojiblancos in the 1923/24 season.

Gallagher has made a fast start to life at his new club

Trippier did take on Wales legend Gareth Bale during his three-year stint in Madrid but had left a year before fellow England international Bellingham arrived in the city.

The latter of whom will now be desperate to reclaim the headlines on these shores that came from his outstanding first season in Spain.

Bellingham’s Euro 2024 exploits and struggles with injuries have meant the 21-year-old is still waiting on his first goal of the campaign.

And Gallagher has more than picked up the mantle, having scored in two of his last three LaLiga games for Atleti since his summer switch.

Gallagher has impressed since swapping Stamford Bridge for Spain in the summerAFP

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Team news

The hosts almost have a clean bill of health, with only Pablo Barrios joining long-term absentee Borja Garces in the treatment room.

Rodrigo De Paul has been carrying a knock but he came off the bench in midweek and could be fit to start.

Former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez scored his second goal for the club on Thursday and will be aiming for another in the derby.

As for Real, the big news is that Kylian Mbappe will miss out.

He’s facing a few weeks on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury against Alavez on Tuesday evening.

Bellingham is expected to be fit despite suffering a recurrence of a shoulder problem against Espanyol.

The midfielder was forced out of the 4-1 win alongside goalscorer Dani Caravajal but neither issue is thought to be a serious one.

Los Blancos remain without injured quartet Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, David Alaba and Brahim Diaz.

Mbappe is out of the Madrid derbyAFP

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: What has been said?

Gallagher revealed the derby will be first meeting with Bellingham since being part of England’s squad for the run to the Euro final.

“I’ve not seen Jude since I moved to Madrid, but we’ll have a good chat the next time I see him,” he told the Athletic last week.

“I’m really excited for (the derby). Jude is an incredible footballer and a top guy as well.

“Any time I play against him is going to be a difficult game.”

Bellingham is still waiting on his first goal against Atletico in his fifth Madrid derbyGetty

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: How to follow

This Madrid derby will take place on Sunday, September 29. 

Kick-off at the Civitas Metropolitano is scheduled for 8pm UK time.

The game will be broadcast live and free-to-air on ITV 4 from 7:30pm – fans can also watch the game online on ITV X here.

The LaLiga contest will also be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 which is on Sky channel 412 or Virgin channel 551.

It is also available to stream via NOW TV, as well as an add-on subscription to Amazon Prime Video for £15.99/a month.

talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date will all the latest. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. 

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.