In the first edition of the El Derbi madrilène this season, Real Madrid welcome Atletico Madrid to the Bernabeu and will be hoping to collect all three points at the expense of their rivals.
Four hours prior to the kick off at the Bernabeu, Barcelona will have played their seventh match of the season against Almeria. A victory for Barcelona will allow the Catalans to further extend their lead at the top of the table as they aim for a second successive title win.

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino will surely have an eye on the result of the Madrid derby as the outcome of the match could really have an impact on the La Liga race. Atletico Madrid are currently placed second and trail the Catalans only because of an inferior goal difference, whereas Real Madrid who spent a fortune in the recently concluded transfer window find themselves in third place, two points behind leaders Barcelona.

If Barcelona manage to win Saturday’s match against Almeria they will spend another week at the top of the La Liga table, keeping in mind that Atletico will have to win with a goal difference of greater than four against Real Madrid if they are to have any chance of finishing this game week at the top of the table.

In case Almeria succeed in causing an upset Barcelona will be in severe danger of losing their coveted spot.It has been almost a decade now since Valencia won the La Liga crown back in the 2003-04 season. Since then the Spanish league has been merely a two team league and no team other than Real Madrid and Barcelona has managed a title victory since then.

It is unlikely that Atletico Madrid will be able to change the trend this season and it is for this reason that Barcelona will be more fearful of Real Madrid. Taking nothing away from Diego Simeone’s side, Los Colchoneros have been sensation so far and have managed six wins in six matches in the league, but it remains to be seen if they can maintain the same level of consistency throughout the 38 match campaign.

Barcelona will be more upset if fierce rivals Real Madrid manage to steal their top spot by the end of the week. The Castillians bolstered their squad with some of the biggest names in the world in the summer transfer window, including the record breaking Gareth Bale who was signed for a massive 86 million pound fee.

The former Spurs man is expected to make his home debut against Atletico Madrid after missing out the last two matches with a thigh strain.

Bale would be looking to add some inspiration to Madrid’s attacking play something they were in need of in their last encounter against Elche when a highly controversial last gasp penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Los Blacnos earning them all three points on Wednesday. A victory for Madrid will allow them to edge closer to Barcelona or perhaps even displace them from the top of the table.

Barcelona will do themselves no favours by conceding their spot to Real Madrid, a team which is hungry as ever for the league crown. The Catalans will be hoping to outclass Almeria in their away match and will be hoping for Atletico to do them a favour as Martino aims for a league title in his debut season with Barcelona.