What is more interesting in the world of football than derbies? The Copa del Rey quarter-final has the two teams in Madrid face off at the Santiago Bernabeu. We are sure of a high-intensity game with the rivalry between these teams. This game is tipped to be dramatic and probably vicious at one point or the other due to their history. Real Madrid will hope to avoid another defeat to an arch-rival after suffering a humiliating loss at the hands of Barcelona in an El Classico-dubbed Spanish Super Cup final. On the other hand, Atletico Madrid is focused on securing silverware this season with hopes of winning the league down the drain.
Real Madrid’s latest news
Real Madrid is still probably traumatized by their latest El Classico loss. The 3-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Barcelona was different because a trophy was at stake this time, and watching Barcelona win wasn’t the best of scenes for them. Their latest league outing saw them win 2-0 against Athletic Bilbao. They secured their spot at the Copa del Rey quarter-final in a dramatic way, as they had to come back from two goals down against Villareal to secure qualification.
Has Karim Benzema regained form?
Despite winning the Ballon d’Or, the Frenchman has had a difficult season. He sustained an injury while practicing for the World Cup, preventing him from competing. Since then, he has experienced form issues. But he appears to be back to his best right now. His goal in Madrid’s most recent league game, a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club, was his sixth in as many games. The Frenchman must continue to perform consistently if Madrid wants to repeat their success from the previous season.
Latest transfer news
- Real Madrid is planning a summer swoop for England star Jude Bellingham. Madrid’s need of a new advanced midfielder to complement the skills of their young core of midfielders set to take over from the aging ones has made Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund a must-sign for them. Since Madrid has been in close communication with Bellingham’s entourage for the past few months, there is reportedly genuine optimism that they can secure his signature this summer.
- A summer bid for Dutch right-back Denzel Dumfries, valued at €40 million by Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan, would reportedly be Real Madrid’s top priority. Real Madrid has recognized the need to fill the gaps in their team, and the right-back position is one of them. Veteran Dani Carvajal has significantly underperformed this season, and Lucas Vazquez is not a long-term solution in that position.
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Atletico Madrid’s latest news
Atletico Madrid has had quite the season, full of ups and downs. They are currently thirteen points behind league leaders Barcelona. Atletico sits fourth in La Liga, tied with Villareal on points. Atletico is now holding up to a top-four finish this season as a realistic goal. Their last league encounter was a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid. They are now in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey competition after easing past Levante in the round of 16.
Is Memphis Depay the missing piece?
When he made his Atletico debut against Real Valladolid with 15 minutes remaining, the Dutchman who had just joined Atletico Madrid demonstrated his abilities and earned a standing ovation from the crowd. The cameo by Memphis was positive. Depay played an entertaining quarter of an hour despite only having two training sessions with his new teammates. The striker will be able to excel up front, move quickly behind the defense, and provide goal-scoring opportunities. His link-up play might be the key to unlocking the potential of Atletico’s attack.
Latest transfer news
- Deiver Machado, a left-back for RC Lens, has been named as a potential transfer target by Atletico Madrid. The Colombian star has particularly shone during the current season, aiding Lens’ ascent to second place in France’s premier division. The 29-year-old, who plays as a wing-back for Lens, has shown his offensive skills while being a reliable defender and is thought to be one of the top left-backs in Ligue 1.
- As the January transfer window closes, Atletico Madrid is eager to continue strengthening their team after acquiring Memphis Depay from Barcelona on Friday. This month, Atleti would ideally like to add another forward player to their roster; Nicolo Zaniolo is still possible. Roma will agree to a loan agreement that contains an obligatory buy option for €40 million, which would be paid in the summer.
Match details
Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023
Time: 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 21:00 Central European Standard Time
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Match predictions and tips
We all know how derbies are, but this is no regular derby, as a spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals is at stake here. Real Madrid is the obvious favorite in this game, and they have shown significant improvement since their loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. With Karim Benzema looking at his best again, this is their game to lose. The Odds for Real Madrid to win are 1.95 (decimal) and -105 (American).
However, Atletico Madrid can’t be counted out. The Copa del Rey might be their only shot at winning a trophy this season as they are already out of the Champions League, and winning La Liga is a long shot for them. Our pick here is for both teams to score. The odds for this pick stand at 1.87 (decimal) and -115 (American).
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