Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid: Champions League prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h

Evening Standard

·3 March 2025

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid: Champions League prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h

Champions League holders go up against Madrid rivals in blockbuster last-16 showdown

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid go head-to-head in a much-anticipated Champions League last-16 tie.

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The defending European champions had to come through an extra knockout play-off just to set up this Madrid derby, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side proving far too strong for Manchester City over two legs.

This promises to be a far tougher test, with Atletico sitting two points above Real in what is shaping up to be an incredibly tight La Liga title race.

Atletico finished fifth in the league phase of the Champions League to book their place in the last-16 and they now face their Madrid rivals in Europe for the first time since the 2016/17 season, when Real won a semi-final tie.

It will be a tough run to the final this season for either side, with Arsenal potentially waiting in the quarter-finals and Liverpool or PSG the likely last-four opponents.

Atletico have impressed domestically and in Europe

REUTERS

Date, kick-off time and venue

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off time on Tuesday March 4, 2025.

The Bernabeu in Madrid will host.

Where to watch Real Madrid vs Atletico

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports. Coverage starts after Aston Villa’s clash with Club Brugge earlier in the evening.

Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on the Discovery+ website and app.

LIVE coverage: Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid team news

Jude Bellingham is suspended for Real Madrid, after he picked up his third yellow card of the season in the Champions League against Man City in the previous round.

Federico Valverde did not feature in the weekend defeat to Real Betis but is expected to return, however Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos are among those still out.

Cesar Azpilicueta has a leg injury and Koke is battling a thigh problem, but Atletico otherwise have a fit squad to choose from.

Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez are competing to partner Antoine Griezmann up front, while Marcos Llorente could come in on the right wing.

Not involved: Jude Bellingham is suspended for the first leg

REUTERS

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid prediction

The last three fixtures between these sides have finished 1-1, with Real only winning one of their last seven matches against Atletico.

This is likely to be another tight encounter with neither taking too many risks in the first leg. Real have the edge when it comes to individual stars stepping up with decisive moments, but Atletico are rock-solid defensively.

It feels destined to be a tie that is going to remain right in the balance throughout the 180 minutes and potentially beyond.

Draw, 1-1.