Madrid, Sep 26 (NationPress) The highly anticipated first derby of the season between Atletico and Real Madrid is set to be the highlight of the seventh game week in La Liga. Atletico aims to reinvigorate their title aspirations and avoid premature elimination from contention this September.

Julian Alvarez's remarkable hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday secured a late victory for Atletico, leaving them nine points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who triumphed 4-1 against Levante on Tuesday.

A win for Atletico would narrow the gap to just six points against their city rivals, whereas a loss could see them fall 12 points behind, posing a significant challenge to their title hopes, despite the season being in its infancy.

Real Madrid boasts an undefeated record this season, with coach Xabi Alonso having nearly his entire squad available, except for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is currently injured.

For Atletico, this derby arrives at a crucial juncture. Under Simeone's management, the team has had a shaky start, accumulating too few points early in the season. However, a derby victory could be the catalyst they need, not only to earn three points but also to reignite their title hopes and secure their first league win over Real Madrid in over two years. Their last victory occurred on Matchday 6 of the 2023/24 season, a 3-1 success at the Metropolitano.

This will mark Xabi Alonso's inaugural Madrid derby as head coach of Real Madrid. The former midfielder has commenced his managerial career with a perfect record, winning all six matches thus far and positioning Los Blancos at the top of the standings. However, facing Simeone's Atletico will present his toughest challenge to date.

Alonso is well-acquainted with the intensity of these fixtures, having participated in 16 derbies as a player, winning 12. His experience includes a memorable moment from the 2014 Champions League final when he celebrated from the sidelines despite being suspended. Now, he has the chance to write his own narrative as a coach.

Interestingly, Alonso has previously faced off against Simeone on the sidelines; his Bayer Leverkusen team drew 2-2 at the Metropolitano in the 2022/23 Champions League, and Atletico later defeated them in another group stage encounter. This history adds another layer of intrigue to Saturday's match.

However, recent encounters have been tightly contested, with the last three league derbies ending in 1-1 draws, often featuring thrilling last-minute drama. Who can forget Ángel Correa's dramatic equalizer in last season's heated affair at the Metropolitano?

Players from FC Barcelona will be watching the Madrid derby closely, as a dropped point by Real Madrid could allow Barca to take the lead with a victory against Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Barcelona continues their season away from their usual home at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, returning to Montjuic while renovations on Camp Nou are ongoing.

Lamine Yamal is again uncertain due to injury, while Gavi will be absent for several months, and Fermin Lopez is sidelined for a couple more weeks. This leaves coach Hansi Flick with limited options to manage his squad ahead of an upcoming Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.

In other matches, Villarreal will host Athletic Club Bilbao in what promises to be an exciting matchup, with Villarreal slightly favored. Athletic is struggling for form since the international break, compounded by the long-term injuries of defenders Yeray Alvarez and Unai Eguiluz, along with midfielder Benat Prados being ruled out for the season due to a knee ligament tear.

On a positive note for Athletic, Spanish international winger Nico Williams could make a return after recovering from a groin injury sustained while on national duty.

The weekend kicks off with Girona aiming for their first win of the season at home against Espanyol. Girona's defense was solid against Bilbao on Tuesday, but coach Michel Sanchez faces a setback with Donny Van de Beek suffering a tendon injury that has ended his season.

Getafe will host Levante in a match expected to produce few scoring opportunities, while Alaves will visit a Mallorca side desperate for their first victory of the season, with coach Jagoba Arrasate under increasing pressure following Wednesday's loss to Real Sociedad.

The round concludes on Monday with an intriguing matchup between a strong Valencia side hosting Oviedo, who are struggling since their return to the elite tier of La Liga.