REAL MADRID INJURIES Gareth Bale is still out with a hamstring problem and will play no part against Atletico. Keylor Navas is back in training, but not yet ready to return, while Mateo Kovacic also needs more time to recover from his injury. Better news sees Dani Carvajal available again after a heart problem, while Luka Modric is also in contention despite being described by Zidane as "off colour" in training on Thursday. REAL MADRID SUSPENSIONS Real Madrid have had a few suspensions already this season, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Sergio Ramos all missing matches in La Liga, but Zidane has no players banned for the game against Atletico. REAL MADRID POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP With Navas set to miss out again, Kiko Casilla will continue in goal for Real Madrid against Atletico. Dani Carvajal looks set to return to the starting line-up for the champions at right-back, with Dani Ceballos (who scored a brilliant hat-trick for Spain's Under-21 side against Slovakia on Tuesday) a possible inclusion in midfield if Zidane decides Modric is not 100 per cent fit. Further forward, Ronaldo is set to partner Karim Benzema in attack, with Isco just behind those two. ATLETICO TEAM NEWS Atletico, like Real Madrid, have picked up 23 points from their opening 11 matches in La Liga so far this season. Diego Simeone's side are on the verge of elimination in the Champions League, but remain unbeaten in the Primera Division with six wins and five draws. The Argentine has a fully fit squad at his disposal for the derby and he will hope striker Antoine Griezmann can return to form after some disappointing displays of late. With Diego Costa unable to feature for Atleti until January due to the club's transfer ban, Angel Correa is in line for a start alongside Griezmann on Saturday. BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS This will be the 161st La Liga derby between Atletico and Real Madrid. Los Blancos have won over half of the fixtures so far, with 86 victories. Atletico have only lost one of their last eight league derbies against Real Madrid (four wins, three draws), although that was a 3-0 defeat in the sides' last Liga meeting at the Vicente Calderon. This will be the first derby between Atletico and Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico failed to win their first league derby at both the Vicente Calderon (2-2 in 1967) and at the old Metropolitano (a 3-0 loss in 1929). Atletico have conceded 83% of their goals from headers in La Liga this season (five out of six), the highest percentage of any team. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored six goals in his last four games against Atletico in all competitions. Zinedine Zidane has lost more games against Atletico than against any other side as Real Madrid manager in all competitions (two), but he did win the first of his seven titles against them (the 2016 Champions League final). Source
As bad as Atleti have been, they will want revenge for a multitude of reasons (CL finals, last derby in Calderon, etc.) and it seems form aside the team is struggling for motivation and I'm not sure they will bring the intensity where the colchoneros will be foaming at the mouth. I hope I'm wrong, cause this could get ugly if the boys aren't "up" for a fight.
I am very worried as well, starting with Casilla ( I have no faith in this guy) and poor form of CR (really hope this changes soon) and well Karim being himself ... we lack firepower this year, lets hope that changes here.
Of course, but benching Benzema has nothing to do with Zidane growing a pair. He's under no pressure to play Benzema, won't get any backlash from the fans, media and journalists alike. Benzema plays because for some inexplicable reason Zidane loves him. And as some of us may know, when it comes to love - logic, reason, objectivity and all round intelligence goes out of the window sometimes. In parts or entirely.
Ronaldo has 48 shots and 1 goal to show for it. I hope he does better. We need our best player right now.
No surprises in the lineup 📝🏃 #RMDerbi¡Once titular del #RealMadrid frente al @Atleti!#RMMovistar | #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/IRp57QLMz9— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) November 18, 2017
Not another disappointing game, we need to start a hot streak, what better time and place than at the mattress makers. Just win, HALA MADRID !
Need to continue the same intensity from the second half of the Las Palmas game straight into this one. Not going to be easy.
I'm feeling some apathy overall from this board. Come on y'all, this is a big one. Ramos as usual has to keep his head straight, and Marcelo has to up his game and not commit so many turnovers. Carvajal is back but I can't see him lasting all 90. Obviously, the strikers need to be on point and not waste chances and the mids need to take a pop every now and again to pull their defense out a bit. All in all we know this is an unpredictable match but we badly need this win. Let's go!