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| Ancelotti made a heroic effort by leading Real madrid to eight successive win in LaLiga this season |
On Sunday, reigning European and La Liga champions Real Madrid will face Atletico Madrid at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano in a bid to make it nine wins from nine this season.
In midweek, Carlo Ancelotti's team needed two goals in the closing minutes to keep their perfect start going against RB Leipzig.
Benzema will again miss this weekend's fixture due to his knee injury, which forced him off after just half an hour in the 3-0 win over Celtic the week before.
Simeone's side were the last to defeat Los Blancos, but are coming off a difficult Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen.
Team views
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| Benzema is feared that he will miss this clash for Real Madrid |
Antoine Griezmann's relegation to the substitute's bench and Joao Felix's barren run means the Rojiblancos need to raise their game in order to knock Real out of first.
As Atletico and Barcelona disagree about the terms of his two-year loan, Griezmann is likely to start the derby off the bench.
Right now, Simeone is more concerned about Felix, who has not scored all season.
Against Real, he and Alvaro Morata could both be dropped for a more dynamic strikeforce with Angel Correa and Matheus Cunha likely to start, although reports suggest Correa will play in midfield alongside Koke and Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Eden Hazard may start on Sunday after having been rested in midweek after Ancelotti used a few different options up front while Benzema has been out.
Ancelotti is likely to replace Eduardo Camavinga with Toni Kroos in his team, along with Luka Modric and Aurelien Tchouameni.
All the eight of Real Madrid's league games and two of their Champions League matches have been won so far, as well as the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Real Madrid has only twice had a longer winning streak to start the season - in 1961-62, with 11 straight matches, and in 1968-69, with 11 consecutive matches.
In the last 10 matches where Mario Hermoso and Felipe played at the center of defense, Atlético Madrid have won one and lost six times.
Felix's goal drought now includes 736 minutes of no goal scoring from the last seven games he played, spanning the duration of last season and the first few games of this season.
Griezmann has come on as a substitute in all seven of Atletico's matches this season, scoring three goals in just 192 minutes of playing time.
The prediction
Los Blancos haven't won any of their last three visits to the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, but Sunday's game presents them with a rare chance to keep their perfect streak going for now.
Playing defensively, they seem more organized and calm under pressure, and seem to be able to create scoring opportunities without striker Karim Benzema. Benzema is not completely ruled out for this match.
A strong factor in Real's favor is their second-half form so far this season. They have scored 16 goals after the half-time whistle and have not conceded in any of their matches so far.
Preparation, staffing, and shrewd substitution and player deployment by Ancelotti helped his side avoid defeat.
Considering Atletico's statistics in the second half this season, it has a record of eight goals scored and seven goals conceded. That said, the manager still retains Griezmann as a trump card up his sleeve.
I predict that Real Madrid will come out on top and make it nine wins out of nine to start the season.
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