Real Madrid v Atletico preview: Madrid derby will have big implications on race for second

The race for second will hot up as Real Madrid and cross-town rivals Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, in a game which could also have big implications on the La Liga title.

Barcelona's nine-point advantage at the top could become 12 by the end of the weekend, which would leave them only four games from sealing the title, with Atletico still hanging on their coat tails to date.

But Diego Simeone's side have reason to be optimistic about picking up a win at the Bernabeu, having won three of their last 11 games at the ground. Prior to that, they had not beaten Real away from home since 1999.

Atletico have lost two of their last four league games, but put themselves in pole position to reach the Europa League semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Sporting on Thursday night.

Real Madrid look set to do likewise in the Champions League on the back of their 3-0 away win at Juventus, and have enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence from a slow start to the season with 12 wins from their last 14 matches.

The 1-0 reverse at Espanyol remains their only defeat in nine La Liga games, and they played out a 0-0 with Atletico in the reverse fixture in November.

Zinedine Zidane's side are third, with Valencia hot on their heels and they are a point with eight games left to play.

But should they win, they could themselves move within a point of Atletico, and close in on a second-placed finish which would help restore some pride to Zidane's domestic season.