The Christmas La Liga standings saw the Madrid sides first and second, with Atletico Madrid above rivals Real Madrid on goal difference alone.

Zinedine Zidane’s side have won five consecutive league matches including a 2-0 victory over Atletico to inflict their first defeat of the season.

Karim Benzema’s form has clawed Real back into contention with the Frenchman netting four times in his last three matches. In 2020, he scored 17 goals with only Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno and Lionel Messi scoring more.

Although it seemed the old guard had gone on a season too long, they have been crucial to the turnaround with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Benzema impressing.

Thibaut Courtois has also ensured the points returned to the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium (Real’s temporary home this season) with crucial saves against Granada and Athletic Bilbao.

Their win against Granada brought them level at the top and continued their impressive record against the Andalusian side, having won their last 11 encounters. Benzema enjoys that fixture and his 13 goals is the most a single player has scored against them in the top-flight.

As for Atleti their success has unsurprisingly been down to their defence, easily the best in the league with just five goals conceded in their 13 matches. Real are the only side to have scored more than once past Jan Oblak who has kept a clean sheet in more than half of his La Liga matches.

A key figure ahead of the Slovenian keeper is Kieran Trippier who played every minute in La Liga and the Champions League. However, Diego Simone will have to do without his trusted right-back for 10 weeks after the Englishman was found to have breached betting rules in relation to his transfer from Tottenham – meaning he will miss 13 matches including the first-leg of their Champions League tie with Chelsea.

For all their famed defensive prowess, Atleti have changed tack and look more threatening going forward with the addition of Luis Suarez and the talented Joao Felix flourishing.

Since his summer move from Barcelona, Suarez has netted seven times in nine appearances while Felix grabbed successive braces in wins over Osasuna and Cadiz.

Marcos Llorente is also in career best form for the Rojiblancos having scored six goals including one in their latest win against Real Sociedad, making it already his most prolific season.

With games in hand against Levante and Sevilla to come, Atleti are well placed to claim their first title since 2014. The omens look good for Simeone as the last time Atletico were top at Christmas they went on to win the league in 1995.

However, despite their affinity with the Champions League, Real would love nothing more than knocking their rivals off their perch and claiming back-to-back titles.

The second half of the season in Spain will be one to keep an eye on and will surely go down the wire to see which Madrid side will come out on top.