Atletico last La Liga title came in 2020-21, and not too many have tipped them to finish above Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain's top flight this season, but a win in the Madrid derby this weekend would certainly send out a title message.

Diego Simeone's side have not been at full flow in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign, but they are unbeaten, boasting a record of four wins and three draws from seven matches, which has left them in third spot in the table, only two points behind second-placed Real Madrid.

The Red and White have the best defensive record in La Liga this season, conceding just three times, and they have kept clean sheets in five of their last six games in Spain's top flight.

Atletico were held to a 1-1 draw by Rayo Vallecano last weekend, but they returned to winning ways on Thursday evening, with Julian Alvarez's 90th-minute goal securing a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo, and it is now four wins in their last five matches in all competitions.

The hosts will be aware of the size of the task facing them on Sunday night, but they were incredibly the last team to beat Real Madrid in La Liga, recording a 3-1 victory when the two teams locked horns at Wanda Metropolitano in September 2023.

Real Madrid's unbeaten run in La Liga is currently at 39 matches, and they are closing in on Barcelona's all-time record of 43 games from 2017-18, but they are set for a very tough examination this weekend.

Carlo Ancelotti's side won a La Liga and Champions League double last season, and they are again the favourites in both competitions this term, with the arrival of a certain Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer making them an even stronger outfit, but the Frenchman will miss out on his first Madrid derby through injury.

Real Madrid have won five and drawn two of their seven league games this season to collect 17 points, which has left them second in the table, four points behind division leaders Barcelona.

Real Madrid are on a five-game winning streak in all competitions, including a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart in their Champions League opener at the Santiago Bernabeu on September 17.

Ancelotti's team have also beaten Espanyol and Alaves at home in their last two league games, and they now have three fixtures before the October international break, tackling Atletico and Villarreal in La Liga either side of a Champions League fixture with Lille in France.

Real Madrid have won 116 of their previous 236 matches with Atletico in all competitions, but it would be fair to say that the Red and Whites have had their share of the success in their recent battles.