Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will meet for the first leg of the 2025/2026 La Liga season.

This match, dubbed the “Madrid derby” always goes beyond football. It is history, pride, and passion ignited in the Spanish capital.

Currently, Real Madrid is in perfect form while Atlético seek a result that can reignite their season. Two contrasting styles will once again collide in one of the world’s most electrifying fixtures.

The match will be played on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 10:15 AM (ET) / 7:15 AM (PT) at the Riyahd Air Metropolitano Stadium.

The referee will be Javier Alberola Rojas, with Carlos del Cerro Grande and Valentín Pizarro Gómez overseeing VAR in a historic appointment for the derby.

Prediction

The Madrid Derby returns with a high-stakes clash that could shape the LaLiga season.

Real Madrid have had an impressive start to the new campaign.

Los Blancos lead the table with 18 points from 6 matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding just 3.

Atletico Madrid arrives with an inconsistent start to LaLiga. They sit ninth in the table with 9 points, collected from 2 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss.

Real Madrid are favourites to carry the day in the Madrid derby to continue their winning streak, while Atletico Madrid can make a surprise to revive their season.

Key Battles

In the last five La Liga meetings, there has been only one win in favour of Real Madrid and the other four matches ended in a draw of one goal each every game.

Game Records

Madrid derby has witnessed 240 official meetings.

Real Madrid holds the upper hand: 123 wins, 59 for Atlético, and 58 draws. Los Blancos have scored 235 goals, while Atlético have netted 123.

Managers

Xabi Alonso currently leads Real Madrid, while  Diego Simeone is still the manager of Atletico Madrid.

Simeone promised to do everything to turn things around after a new campaign with unimpressive results.

“I don’t dwell on the past, I live in the present,” Simeone told reporters on Friday.

Alonso vowed not to be shaken by the “potent” atmosphere at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium and will do everything to win the derby.

“I’d be losing a lot of ‘bullets’ if I did that, a lot of key elements,” said Alonso.

Final Outlook

Real Madrid are clear favourites to win the match, but in most case, derbies emerge as be toughest matches to ever happen.

Real Madrid starting XI for a past La Liga match. PHOTO/Real Madrid Facebook.