MADRID, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid hosts Real Madrid in the first city derby of the season on Sunday, with both sides playing their final match before the international break.
Atletico goes into the game at the Metropolitano Stadium after a 3-0 win away to Real Sociedad and a comfortable 4-0 home victory over Osasuna in midweek, while Real Madrid sits second in the table after beating Rayo Vallecano 4-1 and Elche 3-2 in its last two matches.
Although Jose Mourinho's side has picked up the necessary results, the Portuguese coach will want a tighter defensive display after Rayo managed 18 shots, seven of them on target, last weekend and Elche came back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 before Carlos Espi's injury-time winner.
Mourinho will have to decide on his defensive lineup, with Denzel Dumfries likely to get the nod at right back ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Marc Cucurella is expected to start on the left. Two of Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rudiger are likely to start in central defense.
Kylian Mbappe will pose the biggest threat to Atletico, with Jude Bellingham, Yan Diomande and Arda Guler providing support.
Atletico enjoyed a comfortable win over Osasuna in its last outing, with new arrival Jonathan David scoring his second goal since joining the club and Lee Kang-in adding a creative spark.
Giuliano Simeone returns, and he and Ademola Lookman will offer pace on the break as well as the work rate to track Cucurella and Dumfries. The biggest doubt is whether Julian Alvarez will play any part in the game, and if he does, what reception he will receive from Atletico fans.
FC Barcelona could move six points clear at the top of the table with a win away to Sevilla on Saturday night. If that happens, the Madrid derby will take on added importance, with the loser heading into the international break at least six points behind the reigning champion, or eight in Atletico's case. ■
