La Liga: Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid both in action as title race intensifies

The La Liga title race is fast approaching the final throes and it looks set to be very dramatic. We still don’t know who will be crowned champions yet! However, in this preview, we will look ahead to Atletico Madrid v Eibar and Getafe v Real Madrid on Sunday. 

Atletico Madrid have to put recent stumble behind them

Only a month or two ago, Atletico Madrid were receiving all the plaudits and they looked to be cantering towards the title.Recent results have however checked their progress. In their last six games, they have won just two while in their previous two outings, they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla and were held by Betis.

For so long, Atletico have been in the shadows of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Diego Simeone has moulded a side that is capable of overhauling the Spanish giants, and they are chasing their first title since 2013. Luis Suarez has been exceptional, netting 19 times this term, and with the Uruguayan in their ranks, Atletico can finish the season by clinching silverware.

• Atletico Madrid to beat Eibar @21/50 or 1.42 with Casumo
• Total Goals Over 2.5 @27/25 or 2.08 with Casumo

Atletico Madrid monitoring key duo João Felix and Kieran Trippier

Atletico will be hoping that Joao Felix and Kieran Trippier will be passed fit to face Eibar. Simeone’s charges can ill afford any more slip-ups with Real Madrid and Barcelona both breathing down their necks. Currently, Felix has an ankle sprain while Trippier has a back issue, so it could be touch and go insofar as whether they will both be available.

Eibar under pressure to beat the drop

While the title race will be fascinating until the final day of the campaign, it is a similar story at the opposite end of the table. Eibar are currently anchored to the bottom of La Liga, and are four points adrift of safety. More worryingly for them, they haven’t tasted victory since early January when they beat Granada 2-0.

Atletico Madrid v Eibar: A tale of past encounters

Atletico will be relishing their clash with Eibar, as it is a fixture that has weighed heavily in their favour. Sunday’s meeting will be the 13th time these two sides have met, however, Atletico have won 10 of these clashes. Eibar have come out on top just once, and that was last season when they beat Atletico 2-0.

Real Madrid eyeing unique double this season

Real Madrid can lift both the La Liga and Champions League this season. Los Blancos made serene progress in Europe on Wednesday as they drew 0-0 away to Liverpool in the second leg of their quarter-final tie, going through 3-1 on aggregate. The Champions League means so much to Real, and completing a domestic and European double would be an incredible achievement.

Zinedine Zidane’s charges are right on Atletico’s coattails as only a single point separates the Madrid rivals. Aside from reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, Real have been in fabulous form of late. They will certainly have enjoyed their 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona earlier this month. Real just have to keep on winning and applying the pressure on Atletico.

• Real Madrid to beat Getafe @16/25 or 1.64 with Casumo
• Karim Benzema to score at anytime @59/50 or 2.48 with Casumo

Over the course of the season, there has been a sense of togetherness at Real. While Zidane has had his critics, he has let his players do the talking on the pitch. After the Liverpool game, Zidane said: “The players are more united and want to step up. We have immense quality, but the key is the character of the players.”

Getafe still not out of the woods yet

Currently, there is a four-point buffer between Getafe in 15th and Elche in 18th, and so Getafe will still be looking nervously over their shoulders. While facing Real won’t ultimately determine their La Liga status, Getafe need to get back on the winning trail, and fast! Their last victory, which was back in February, came against Valencia.

However, Getafe haven’t fared so well against Real over the years. Indeed, they have won just five of their 31 La Liga clashes. Of their past five meetings, Real haven’t conceded a goal, and they have won four of the five matches. Earlier this season, Real won 2-0 at home, with Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy grabbing both goals in the second half. A repeat performance would do for Los Blancos as they look to drag Atletico down the table. 

 

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