Two of La Liga's fiercest rivals meet for the first time this season as Real Madrid make the short journey to the Vicente Calderon to face Atletico Madrid this weekend.

Both teams were considered title contenders ahead of the start of the 2015-16 campaign, but both dropped points last time out in the Spanish top flight.

Atletico Madrid

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It has been a difficult week for Diego Simeone's side, with Atletico suffering a 1-0 defeat to Villarreal last weekend, before letting a lead slip in a 2-1 loss to Benfica in the Champions League this week.

Atletico had been showing signs of returning to the kind of form that won them the La Liga title in the 2013-14 season, winning four of their first five fixtures in the league.

Last weekend's loss leaves the team fifth in the table, four points behind league leaders Villarreal, and two points behind this weekend's opponents.

The arrival of Colombian striker Jackson Martinez from Porto over the summer would have excited Atletico fans, but the 28-year-old has been unable to replicate the form that caught the Spanish side's eye, scoring just once in eight appearances for the team so far this season.

Atletico have been unable to match the goal-scoring prowess of the sides above them in the table in their opening six fixtures, scoring nine goals so far. However, their loss to the leaders last weekend was the first fixture that they have failed to score in.

This weekend's hosts do have one of the best defensive records in the Spanish top flight though, with four clean sheets so far - only Real Madrid have kept the opposition out more often.

Recent form: WWLWWL
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWLL

Real Madrid

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Real Madrid dropped points for the second time this season last weekend, having been held to a goalless draw by 10-man Malaga at the Bernabeu, leaving them two points off the top of the table, and a point behind reigning champions Barcelona.

Rafael Benitez's side are still unbeaten still this season though, and got back to winning ways in the Champions League, securing a 2-0 win over Swedish side Malmo on Wednesday, thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.

The goals against Malmo took Ronaldo past the 500-goal mark in his career, while also leveling Raul's all-time record for Real, with his 323rd goal for the club.

Although Ronaldo already has 10 goals in all competitions for Real this season, the Portuguese international has been on target in just one league match this season, netting five times in the 6-0 win over Espanyol last month.

Karim Benzema has six goals in seven appearances though, helping the team net 14 goals in their first six matches of the campaign, just one fewer than leaders Villarreal.

Los Blancos also have the best defensive record in the division, having conceded just a single goal so far, recording five clean sheets - more than any other side in La Liga.

Recent form: DWWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWDW

Team News

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For the visitors, Gareth Bale should be available to make his return after two weeks out with a calf strain. The Welsh international has been back in training this week, and is included in Chris Coleman's latest Wales squad.

Sergio Ramos, who had been out with a shoulder injury, also returned to training this week, but Pepe, Danilo and James Rodriguez all remain doubts.

This weekend's hosts have been missing Koke in recent weeks after he picked up a muscle strain in the win over Eibar earlier this season, but the midfielder has been back in training this weekend. He will not be risked if he is not 100% ready for this match though, with a two-week international break coming up.

Simeone has rotated Jackson Martinez and Fernando Torres up front this season, and with the Colombian struggling for goals, the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker could come back into the starting lineup, having featured off the bench against Benfica.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak, Godin, Luis, Games, Gimenez, Tiago, Oliver, Gabi, Niguez, Griezmann, Torres

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Navas, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale

Head To Head

The sides last met in the Champions League last season, with Real securing a 1-0 aggregate win over their local rivals, although the sides shared a draw in the leg of the Vicente Calderon.

When the teams played at Atletico's stadium in La Liga last season, it was the home side who secured an emphatic 4-0 victory, inflicting the heaviest defeat in four years on their neighbours.

In 52 previous meetings between the two Madrid sides, Atletico have picked up just eight wins, while Real have 31 wins and 13 matches have ended in draws.

We say: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid have been in strong form over the last month, and with the imminent returns of Bale and Ramos, the visitors will be confident of avenging their heavy defeat in their last league visit to the Vicente Calderon. The home side's defending should make it a close match, but Atletico do not have the same weapons up front as their rivals.

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