Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid La Liga Odds & Pick

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid is on Saturday, with a chance to move within three points of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table. Both Atletico and Real have been improving lately, as Real would also enter the title race seriously if they can pick up the win. Take a look at our soccer betting preview of this La Liga derby that is sure to be another classic in this storied rivalry. The last four La Liga matches between the two sides have ended in a draw, shich is one reason why the draw odds here (see below) are so favorable.

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid La Liga Odds & Pick

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When: Saturday, February 9, 2019, 10:15am ET Where: Wanda Metroplitano Stadium, Madrid TV: beIN Sports Radio: None Live Stream: fuboTV La Liga Odds: Atletico 29/20 / Real 54/25 / Draw 58/25

Why should you bet on Atletico? 

Atletico runs their offense through Antoine Griezmann, one of the stars of the French national team. In La Liga, Griezmann has scored 10 goals this season. Atletico brought in Alvaro Morata from Chelsea on a loan. Morata has lost some of his mojo at Chelsea because of the lack of playing time had received, and so he did not contribute much in his first game with Atletico, which the side lost to Real Betis by a 1-0 score. However, the Atletico defense is enough to hold off Real — but can they put up the goals they will need to beat a somewhat superior offense in terms of finishers? Defense has long been an area of emphasis for this rivalry. The last time a meeting between these two teams featured more than three goals came four years ago. In the teams’ last five meetings, one team has been shut out in three of those matches. So whether you’re betting on Atletico or not, it might well worth be considering a wager on the game producing fewer than two goals — as well as a scoreless draw. Atletico has not lost at home to Real since November 2016, and if you like them in this match, you see that defense holding serve, at least enough to draw, if not to win. No La Liga team has fewer losses than Atletico, but their tendency to settle for draws instead of winning outright is why they are in second place.

Why should you put your money on Real?

Real has won three straight La Liga fixtures, thanks in large part to the play of Karim Benzema. He delivered an assist to Lucas Vazquez in the team’s goal against Barcelona, a game that would turn out as a 1-1 draw in the semifinal first leg in the Copa del Rey. Benzema has scored 18 goals across all competitions during this season, as he has slid into the scoring role that Cristiano Ronaldo vacated when he bolted for Juventus. He has put together a solid connection with Vazquez and Vinicius Junior on the wings. Real walloped Alaves, 3-0, ahead of that draw against Barcelona. That left them just two points behind Atletico in the table. Their start to 2019 was inauspicious, as they drew with Villarreal and lost to Real Sociedad. Since then, they have only lost to Leganes in the second leg of their quarterfinal in the Copa del Rey, but they did advance on aggregate. With ten goals in their last four La Liga contests, it seems that Real has the offense to find their way through that stiff Atletico defense.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Derbies are always exciting and add an extra level of intrigue to La Liga matches. The defense of Atletico Madrid will have to withstand the attacks from Real Madrid and perhaps take advantage of mistakes that Real makes when on the attack. Given the recent run Real has made, while Atletico has struggled to finish, I see Real taking the road win, by a 2-1 score.