Real Madrid, which is in a great moment after advancing past Manchester City, will face Atletico Madrid with Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, and Dani Ceballos sidelined.

Alvaro Arbeloa hopes to navigate his first direct matchup against Diego Pablo Simeone. The atmosphere at Valdebebas is that of a big game, and it feels like there is a final at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

The trend is positive, and within the organization, it is noticeable that this was missing just a few months ago. The front office is happy with how the coach from Salamanca has handled a difficult situation, especially given the injuries. Florentino Perez and his inner circle particularly highlight the confidence he has given to academy players such as Thiago Pitarch and Manuel Angel. The former, in particular, is already a full member of the first team. He has earned it.

The fans have not forgotten what happened in the first-leg derby. The 5-2 result at the Metropolitano, which marked a turning point for Xabi Alonso, remains in the minds of the Madrid supporters. There is a desire for revenge, and the situation is ideal to get it in the best possible way. Atletico Madrid has struggled significantly on the road, and this time should be no different.

Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed at a news conference that Kylian Mbappe will have no issues playing in this match, which is the 29th round of the league. The Bondy native has fully recovered from his knee issues and is expected to start. It could not be better news.

The collective has functioned well without him, and now is the time for him to demonstrate that the team can continue in this vein with him on the field. It would be the best possible sign and would bode well for the remainder of the season.

The red-and-white club has LaLiga as a secondary, or even tertiary, priority. At this moment, it sits in fourth place with 57 points and is 13 points ahead of Betis, which is in fifth. Therefore, it has no issue finishing in positions that grant Champions League qualification. It is simply competing for third place with Villarreal.

Head coach Simeone and his players came off a narrow win over Getafe and secured a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals, despite losing 3-2 to Tottenham. Atletico's focus is on the Copa del Rey final on April 18 and the Champions League matchup against Barcelona. Even so, everyone knows what a derby means, and they will give everything to take points at the Bernabeu and spoil their rival's LaLiga ambitions.

Roundtablesports is absolutely Free to join! You can post your own thoughts, comment on articles, and start conversations with our Roundtable Writers. Scroll up to the top of the page and click 'Join'.

Download the FREE Roundtable APP, and get even easier access to your favorite teams and news!