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All eyes will be at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium on Sunday as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will resume hostilities in an enticing Madrid derby in the 2020-21 La Liga.
Only five points separate the two sides in the league table, but the Rojiblancos, who are atop the league table, have a game in hand over Real Madrid.
With second-placed Barcelona, who have the same points as Real Madrid, not too far behind, Atletico Madrid will need a win to create some daylight at the top of the points table.
In their first meeting of the season, Real Madrid got one over their city rivals as they look to complete their first double over Atletico Madrid in eight years and close the gap at the top.
Nevertheless, it's going to be an epic game. Ahead of this much-anticipated kick-off, let's take a look at how the Madrid clubs would stack up in a combined hypothetical XI:
(Note - Players have been selected based on their availability.)
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
Thibaut Courtois has been superb in goal for Real Madrid, but his Slovenian counterpart gets the nod here. That's because Jan Oblak leads the former Atletico Madrid custodian both in terms of most clean sheets and fewer goals conceded.
Widely touted as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Oblak has quick reflexes, excellent reading of the game and leadership qualities. He could need more of the same and some more against Real Madrid on Saturday.
Oblak is a three-time winner of the Ricardo Zamora Trophy, awarded to the goalkeeper for conceding the fewest goals in a La Liga season. He has kept a clean sheet in the La Liga against Real Madrid at least once in each of his last three campaigns, a trend he'll like to continue on Sunday.
Right-back: Keiran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Just in time for an important derby, Kieran Trippier returns to the Atletico Madrid team following a betting ban that had ruled him out since the turn of the year.
Nevertheless, the English full-back has had a good season, making five assists in 14 La Liga games while putting in excellent shifts defensively too. Diego Simeone will hope for Trippier to replicate some of that form against Real Madrid.
Centre-back: Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Raphael Varane's future at Real Madrid has come under the scanner once again. But the 27-year-old hasn't let those exit rumours distract him from giving his best on the field.
With a defence that's reeling from the absence of captain Sergio Ramos, Varane has truly stepped up to the plate. However, he will have the onus of shutting out Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez in the game.
Centre-back: Stefan Savic (Atletico Madrid)
With Diego Simeone adopting a three-man backline this season, Atletico Madrid's defence has returned to being one of Europe's meanest. One player to have truly impressed in this set-up is Stefan Savic.
The Montenegrin star is back in form again this season. He has averaged over three clearances, 2.5 aerial duels and a pass completion rate of over 85% per game.
Left-back: Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Ferland Mendy's meteoric rise at Real Madrid is well documented, as the French fireball has usurped the legendary Marcelo to establish himself in Zinedine Zidane's set-up.
Mendy has continued in the same vein this season, even though the manager will expect more from him from an attacking standpoint too.
Defensive Midfielder - Koke (Atletico Madrid)
The longest-serving player at Atletico Madrid, Koke is still only 29 but continues to ooze class in his performances despite breaking into the first team 12 years ago.
A complete midfielder, Koke expertly combines his physical strength with amazing technical ability to hold his own in the middle. He has been an exceptional leader at Atletico Madrid too.
Right Midfielder - Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Where do we even begin with Luka Modric? The legendary Croatian continues to defy Ol' Father Time with exceptional performances week in week out.
He has been involved in five goals this campaign. But Modric's value is more than just that, as he plays a key role in orchestrating Real Madrid's attack and also helps out defensively.
Attacking Midfielder - Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
That epic night at Anfield last year completely transformed Marcos Llorente, who has seemed more dangerous and grown in influence for Atletico Madrid since then.
In fact, the current season is already turning out to be his best yet. Marcos Llorente has netted eight goals and made seven assists in the La Liga, the most goal-involvement by an Atletico Madrid player after only Luis Suarez.
Left Midfielder - Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)
The jury might be still out on him, but Joao Felix has truly upped his game this season. The Atletico Madrid starlet has scored more goals and laid more assists this campaign than what he managed in the entirety of the last campaign.
That's even more impressive when one considers the fact that he missed a couple of games because of COVID-19 and a minor injury. Nevertheless, the Portuguese star has begun to some of the form which propelled him to stardom at Benfica.
Striker - Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)
Luis Suarez's whirlwind start to his Atletico Madrid career is a resounding slap in the face of those who felt that his best days were behind him.
With 16 league goals so far, the Uruguayan has returned to his rip-roaring best and could be the chief attacking threat for Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Suarez knows Real Madrid very well, having tormented them on several occasions with Barcelona in the past, netting nine times in the El Clasico.
Striker - Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Now in his 12th year at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema continues to lead the line for his team with aplomb. The Frenchman has netted 12 times in the La Liga this season and needs just one more to equal Juan Arza's tally in the league's all-time list.
Benzema scored the winner against Atletico Madrid last year in a 1-0 home victory; a repeat of the same would effectively blow the title race wide open.
