Real Madrid brace for red-hot Atletico in critical derby test

MADRID : Despite sitting top of LaLiga, reigning champions Real Madrid may feel like they have a lot to prove when they host Atletico Madrid on Saturday with their in-form city rivals eager to seize the momentum in the title race and leapfrog them in the table.

Real have failed to beat any of their top-four rivals this season and head into Saturday's derby searching for a statement victory to silence some of their doubters.

It will be the first of two massive challenges facing Carlo Ancelotti's side in the coming days, with the team also travelling to England next week for the first leg of their Champions League playoff clash at Manchester City.

Beating Diego Simeone's Atletico on Saturday could be a turning point for Ancelotti's team, who have been under scrutiny for their inconsistent form as they seek to defend their titles in both competitions.

Defeats to AC Milan and Liverpool in the Champions League hurt, but they were more severely exposed in two thrashings handed out by old rivals Barcelona.

A 4-0 loss at home in the league and a 5-1 demolition in the Spanish Super Cup raised questions as to whether Real had it in them to defend their European and domestic crowns.

Real have 49 points in LaLiga, one more than a red-hot Atletico, who have been in imperious form winning 19 of their last 21 games in all competitions.

Sterling performances from Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez and Rodrigo De Paul have earned Atletico big wins at Barcelona and Paris St Germain, while Diego Simeone's side have arguably been playing some of the best football on the continent over the last few months.

While Real failed to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League, Simeone's Atletico earned direct access to the last 16 after finishing