<p>Real Madrid can bury Atletico’s hopes of winning La Liga with a third straight victory against their city neighbours on Sunday that would leave the capital's second club trailing by six points.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Atletico stunned their bitter local rivals 2-1 at Real's own Bernabeu stadium in last season's King's Cup final and followed up with a 1-0 success at the same venue in La Liga at the end of September.<br /><br />However, Real have greatly improved as the season has progressed and they dumped holders Atletico out of this term's Cup 5-0 on aggregate in their two-legged semifinal this month.<br /><br />Unbeaten in 27 matches in all competitions, Real are in ominous form before Sunday's trip across town to Atletico's Calderon stadium and will be buoyed by their 6-1 success at German side Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Wednesday.<br /><br />They took over from Barcelona, who host promoted Almeria on Sunday, at the top of La Liga last weekend when both Barca and Atletico suffered surprise defeats.<br /><br />Real have 63 points with 13 games left, with Barca, chasing a fifth title in six years, and Atletico on 60.<br /><br />Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took over from Jose Mourinho at the end of last term, has eliminated the defensive lapses that cost his team earlier in the season.<br /><br />With Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale in a three-pronged attack, the Italian has one of the most lethal forward lines in football and each scored twice in Wednesday's romp in Gelsenkirchen.<br /><br />“We have a lot of potential up front," midfielder Xabi Alonso, whose composure and passing ability help Real control their opponents, told reporters after the Schalke game.<br /><br />"We create a lot of chances and it's good news that the three forwards are fired up," added the Spain international.<br /><br />"We are confident but we know that each match is a different story. If we don't go out with the same focus as today any team is capable of giving us a scare."<br /><br />Atletico, who are also through to the last-16 of the Champions League, are mounting a genuine challenge for the La Liga title for the first time since they won a league and Cup double in 1996.</p>
<p>Real Madrid can bury Atletico’s hopes of winning La Liga with a third straight victory against their city neighbours on Sunday that would leave the capital's second club trailing by six points.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Atletico stunned their bitter local rivals 2-1 at Real's own Bernabeu stadium in last season's King's Cup final and followed up with a 1-0 success at the same venue in La Liga at the end of September.<br /><br />However, Real have greatly improved as the season has progressed and they dumped holders Atletico out of this term's Cup 5-0 on aggregate in their two-legged semifinal this month.<br /><br />Unbeaten in 27 matches in all competitions, Real are in ominous form before Sunday's trip across town to Atletico's Calderon stadium and will be buoyed by their 6-1 success at German side Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Wednesday.<br /><br />They took over from Barcelona, who host promoted Almeria on Sunday, at the top of La Liga last weekend when both Barca and Atletico suffered surprise defeats.<br /><br />Real have 63 points with 13 games left, with Barca, chasing a fifth title in six years, and Atletico on 60.<br /><br />Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took over from Jose Mourinho at the end of last term, has eliminated the defensive lapses that cost his team earlier in the season.<br /><br />With Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale in a three-pronged attack, the Italian has one of the most lethal forward lines in football and each scored twice in Wednesday's romp in Gelsenkirchen.<br /><br />“We have a lot of potential up front," midfielder Xabi Alonso, whose composure and passing ability help Real control their opponents, told reporters after the Schalke game.<br /><br />"We create a lot of chances and it's good news that the three forwards are fired up," added the Spain international.<br /><br />"We are confident but we know that each match is a different story. If we don't go out with the same focus as today any team is capable of giving us a scare."<br /><br />Atletico, who are also through to the last-16 of the Champions League, are mounting a genuine challenge for the La Liga title for the first time since they won a league and Cup double in 1996.</p>