Madrid’s first derby of the 2026/27 season arrives at the Metropolitano on Sunday with Real Madrid still scoring freely, yet carrying an uncomfortable question from their 3-2 win at Elche: are they taking enough of the chances that their attacking volume creates?
Key takeaways
- Real Madrid have scored 17 LaLiga goals in seven matches, the division’s second-highest total behind Barcelona’s 28.
- José Mourinho’s side have produced 92 league shots, with 50 finding the target, but their 18% conversion rate trails four teams.
- Vinicius Junior has one goal from seven appearances in all competitions this season and has acknowledged his recent difficulties in front of goal.
- Real have failed to win any of the second halves in their last four matches when those periods are considered separately.
- Atlético forward Julián Álvarez returned to much of Friday’s training and could be available after a minor issue sustained against Liverpool.
Real seek sharper edge before the Metropolitano
Only Barcelona have been more prolific in Spain so far. Across all competitions in Europe’s five major leagues, Real have scored 19 times; Barcelona again lead that comparison with 33.
Barcelona are also the only LaLiga team to have attempted more shots than Real. The contrast is in what happens at the end of those attacks. Barcelona have turned 100 attempts, 51 on target, into 28 goals. Real’s return is 17 from 92, despite putting 50 efforts on goal.
LaLiga’s leading conversion rates
- Barcelona — 28%
- Racing Santander — 24.4%
- Deportivo La Coruña — 23.08%
- Atlético de Madrid — 19.72%
- Real Madrid — 18%
Real have been held scoreless only once in the league, losing 1-0 to Betis. They have scored at least twice in each of their other six fixtures, but missed opportunities have left recent matches more precarious than the headline goal tally suggests.
Mourinho, speaking after the Elche victory, said he enjoys seeing his team score but placed just as much emphasis on command of the match. He warned that spells of high-quality football and repeated chances cannot be followed by passive periods, lower intensity and surrendering control, because an opponent can strike unexpectedly.
The trip across the city will be Mourinho’s first Madrid derby since 2013, when his initial spell at Real came to an end. During that earlier period, Real won eight of their nine meetings with Atlético.
Álvarez offers Atlético a possible lift
For Vinicius, the derby provides a major stage to reset. The Brazilian has found the net once in seven games in all competitions, a modest early-season figure for a forward who has been among the players most affected by Real’s finishing concerns.
Atlético may have a significant attacking return of their own. Álvarez completed a substantial part of Friday’s session after missing matches against Real Sociedad and Osasuna. The Argentina international had been sidelined by a minor overload suffered in the Champions League meeting with Liverpool.
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak said the squad and its captains had treated the situation normally, stressing that Álvarez remained with the group, had their support and was giving everything possible when able to play. His availability for Sunday’s squad now appears possible as Atlético prepare to welcome their city rivals.
