The Carabao Cup final features a clash between the Premier League’s top two teams. First plays second for the first trophy of the English domestic season.
Psychological Edge Up For Grabs
A nine-point gap separates the two sides in the Premier League table. Man City, however, have a game in hand and will host Arsenal next month. This cup final could cast a large shadow over the rest of the season.
An Arsenal victory over City, continuing their recent form, would give them a psychological advantage for the final sprint of the title race. It could also erase what is left of City’s confidence.
Madrid Derby Also in Focus
Elsewhere, the Madrid derby is also generating excitement. Atletico Madrid face Real Madrid, with Atleti potentially playing a spoiler role in the LaLiga title race. Real Madrid are four points behind Barcelona, who play Rayo Vallecano.
Atletico’s form is solid going into this game, with strong performances in recent weeks, notably their dominant 3-2 victory over in-form Real Sociedad. Alexander Sørloth has found his scoring boots, Antoine Griezmann is still capable of magic, and it all means Atleti will travel to the Bernabéu feeling plenty confident.
The hosts will want revenge, having lost the reverse fixture 5-2 back in September. Interim manager Álvaro Arbeloa seems to have found the solution to Madrid’s problems of late, using a more pragmatic 4-4-2 formation and seeing an upturn in form from defensive midfielders Thiago Pitarch and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Kylian Mbappé is even back from a knee injury for this game after coming on for 20 minutes against Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek. He will go back straight into the starting lineup and should be the main threat when these teams meet Sunday.
Predicted Madrid Derby Result
The prediction is Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid. It is expected to be a very intense, feisty affair at the Bernabéu on Sunday evening, with a lot of pressure on both teams in this massive derby. Madrid are expected to struggle to break down Atleti, and so a draw is anticipated.
The Madrid derby is always special, even more so when the stakes are high. Atleti can’t really catch their archrivals in LaLiga — they’re nine points behind with 10 games to go — but they can be a major spoiler when it comes to the title race.
If Arsenal beat City and continue their recent form (they are unbeaten since January), it will give them a psychological advantage for the final sprint of the title race and could erase what is left of City’s confidence.