Two lineup tweaks light up the Madrid derby: Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid
22 March 2026
Lineups announced ahead of the Madrid Derby
Two changes headline the official lineups for the Madrid derby as Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid reveal their selections for the 29th La Liga matchday.
Alvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid's coach, and Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid's coach, confirmed the two changes from the starting XI that faced Manchester City in the Champions League.
In goal, Lunin starts due to Courtois' injury, and Carvajal moves to right-back, with Mbappe and Bellingham among the substitutions.
Real Madrid starting XI: Lunin, Carvajal, Rudiger, Hussen, Fran Garcia, Valverde, Tiago Bettartch, Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Ibrahim Diaz, Vinicius.
Atlético Madrid starting XI: Muso, Yurenti, Lo Norman, Hanko, Rogeri, Juliano Simeoni, Jony Cardoso, Koki, Lukman, Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.
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Two substitutes may shake the tempo even more, as the match approaches, with the tension of a derby and the coffee of a football fan at stake.
Punchline 1: Lineups are so precise tonight that even the bench locations come with a built-in punchline. Punchline 2: If patience were a weapon, this derby would be a sniper’s dream—two chances, one goal, and a crowd-wide countdown to kickoff.
