Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid: La Liga – live!

40 min Kroos works Oblak again from distance, this time with a low, first-time curler. I think it would have hit the outside of the post but Oblak played safe, palming it behind for a corner.

39 min After lovely play from Thomas, Joao Felix cracks a fine low shot from 20 yards that flashes just wide of the far post.

38 min That, in fact, was the first shot on target in the match. It hasn’t been a classic.

37 min Kroos’s sudden long-range shot is saved at the second attempt by Oblak, sprawling to his left. It was a decent save, no more or less.

33 min Vitolo wins a corner for Atletico, who are having a good little spell. Trippier whips it towards the near post and it’s headed away.

30 min Thomas, found by Trippier on the right, drives a stunning low cross that flashes right across the six-yard box. The stretching Diego Costa just failed to reach it in front of an open goal, and then got up appealing for a penalty. There was nothing in it.

27 min Real win three corners in the space of 30 seconds. The third, from Kroos, is noggined away by Trippier.

26 min Real are looking increasingly dangerous, especially on the counter-attack. Atletico need Diego Costa to pick a fight to get the crowd going again.

24 min “‘Ramos leaves a snide one on Diego Costa’, you say?” sniffs Matt Dony. “I’m surprised. It’s not like either of those two to get involved in any poo-housery. Also, Martin Blank is very much the ideal I aspire to. In my top five films. Genius.”

It’s in my top three, so I win. Bing bing bang, popcorn that.

23 min A brilliant pass from Valverde releases Hazard on the left. He moves into the area, slips Savic and hits a cross that takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner on the other side.

17 min Nacho’s inswinging cross is headed behind by Lodi, under a lot of pressure from Bale. A goalkick is given but I’m sure the last touch was Lodi’s.

13 min Ramos leaves a snide one on Diego Costa, a questionable tactic with 77 minutes still to play.

12 min Real have been the better team in the last few minutes. Hazard is taking up some dangerous positions.

9 min Real are fuming that Trippier has not been booked for a cynical foul on Hazard, and rightly so. Mind you, Ramos should have been booked a few minutes ago as well.

8 min The first chance for Atletico. Diego Costa, in his own half, lobs a simple ball through the inside-right channel for Joao Felix. He scoots into the area, far too quick for Sergio Ramos, but the angle is fairly tight and he drags his shot wide of the far post.

7 min Real have their first spell of possession in the Atletico half. You don’t need to be looking at the screen to know when Sergio Ramos is on the ball.

6 min Trippier is back on and seems okay. Real have been camped in their half since the match started. I’m sure they have crossed the halfway line, but I can’t remember it.

5 min Joao Felix slips Sergio Ramos with a lovely nutmeg and is flattened for his impudence. Ramos waves him to his feet, but it was a clear foul and he should probably have been booked.

5 min It was an accidental challenge from Hazard, who was looking the other way and had no idea Trippier was behind him.

4 min Trippier is down after the backpedalling Hazard landed on his right foot. This doesn’t look good.

2 min Trippier’s first involvement in a Madrid derby is a cross from the right that is volleyed away by Sergio Ramos. Real haven’t crossed the halfway line yet.

1 min Peep peep! Atletico get the match under way, kicking from left to right.

There’s a glorious noise all around the Metropolitano Stadium as the players emerge from the tunnel.

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2) Oblak; Trippier, Savic, Gimenez, Renan Lodi; Saul, Thomas, Koke, Vitolo; Joao Felix, Diego Costa.
Substitutes: Herrera, Lemar, Arias, Felipe, Adan, Llorente, Correa.

Real Madrid (4-3-3) Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Kroos, Casemiro, Valverde; Bale, Benzema, Hazard.
Substitutes: Eder Militao, Vinicius, Areola, Jovic, James, Modric, Lucas Vazquez.

Hello. There have been some monstrous Madrid derbies in the Simeone years. This isn’t quite at the top of the list – it’s not a Champions League final for a start – but it does feel bigger than usual. Not only will the winner, if there is one, overtake Granada and go top of La Liga; they will also make a statement of title-winning intent.

With the usual champions Barcelona looking vulnerable away from home, today’s victory at Getafe notwithstanding, there is at least the potential for a new winner of La Liga.

In the meantime, it never hurts to turn over your local rivals. For Atletico, who plugged Real 7-3 in a pre-season match in New Jersey, victory would be especially sweet. They have won only once at home to Real in the league in the last 20 years, but they go into tonight’s match in fine mood. Whatever happens, Saturday night in Madrid will not be dull.

Kick off is at 8pm.