Bellingham, Modric start in a 4-4-2: How Real Madrid can line up against Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid will face their biggest test of the 2024/25 season thus far when they take on neighbours and bitter rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.

The clash at the Civitas Metropolitano – the site of Real Madrid’s last defeat in La Liga – will undoubtedly be tightly contested with both teams gunning for bragging rights in the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid head into the game with momentum on their side having picked up five wins on the bounce in all competitions, most recently beating Deportivo Alaves 3-2.

Atletico Madrid are also yet to be beaten in La Liga this season and managed to eke out a narrow 1-0 win in their last game against Celta Vigo, thanks to a 90th-minute winner by Julian Alvarez.

Real Marid have some notable absentees heading into the game with Kylian Mbappe being the biggest of them all. David Alaba, Dani Ceballos, and Brahim Diaz also miss out.

But Carlo Ancelotti has welcomed Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga back into the squad in a double injury boost. With that in mind, here’s how Real Madrid could set up against Diego Simeone’s Los Colchoneros on Sunday.

Defence

Thibaut Courtois will be in for a hostile reception as he returns to Atletico Madrid. The Belgian goalkeeper has never lost a game to Los Rojiblancos since making the switch to Real Madrid and will be eager to keep that record intact.

Meanwhile, Dani Carvajal should walk into the starting XI after recovering from his minor niggle, replacing Lucas Vazquez at right-back.

The rest of the defensive line should remain unchanged as Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao form the centre-back pairing while Ferland Mendy starts at left-back ahead of Fran Garcia.

Midfield

The midfield department is where there could be a shuffling of structure as Ancelotti is likely to revert to the diamond formation in the centre of the park with his key attacker, Kylian Mbappe, unavailable.

As such, Aurelien Tchouameni will sit at the base of the midfield diamond while Jude Bellingham will return to the attacking midfield role from where he tasted so much success last season.

Federico Valverde is a certain starter as one of the interior midfielders, leaving the final spot up for grabs. Given that he is returning after a month-long layoff, Eduardo Camavinga may have to settle for a spot on the bench, with captain Luka Modric likely to get the nod instead.

Attack

Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Jr. will form the two-pronged attack for Real Madrid and look to extend their run of form, with the former scoring in each of the last two matches and the latter netting last weekend against RCD Espanyol.

Endrick might have been an option to directly replace Mbappe in the centre-forward slot but Ancelotti is unlikely to risk it in a derby. As such, the 18-year-old will once again have to suffice with minutes off the bench.

The same holds for Arda Guler as well, who has shown that he is more than capable of impacting proceedings.