Zinedine Zidane: 'Atletico Madrid are favourites for La Liga title'

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has claimed that Atletico Madrid are the favourites for this season's La Liga title as the two teams prepare to lock horns on Saturday.

Atletico have made an excellent start to the 2020-21 campaign, picking up 26 points from their 10 matches to top the table, six points clear of fourth-placed Real Madrid with a game in hand on their rivals.

Diego Simeone's side have not lost in the league since February, meanwhile, and boast a 12-point advantage over ninth-placed Barcelona after 10 games of the campaign.

Asked whether Los Rojiblancos were the favourites for the title this season, Zidane told reporters: "Yes, for sure. That is what they're showing. They are doing well on the pitch, they are winning. They have always been a competitive team and they are top of the table today.

"We'll have to deal with what they do well. Atleti are a team that always compete, they have for a long time, that's what I expect. As for the rest, we'll look at what we will do, that is what interests me more."

Atletico, who last lifted the title in 2013-14, have won each of their last seven in La Liga, but Real Madrid have lost two of their last four, including a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Alaves at the end of November.

Zidane's side did pick up all three points against Sevilla in the league last weekend, though, with an own goal from Yassine Bounou early in the second half proving to be the difference between the two teams.