Real Madrid strike first against Atlético de Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid won the first European derby against Atlético de Madrid 2-1. Ancelotti’s side struck first in the Champions League round of 16 with goals from Rodrygo and Brahim, while Julián Álvarez, with a great goal, reduced the deficit to Simeone’s side to just one goal. Everything will be decided at the Metropolitano in a match in which Madrid alternated good minutes with some horrible ones; and in which Atleti only disarmed during the first 20 minutes.

Legend has it that the Bernabéu Stadium is a kind of Harvey Dent who, when he touches the Champions League and the play-offs, is scary and, at the very least, devastating in terms of decibels. The acoustics of the New Bernabéu seemed to shake the foundations of the monument on the Paseo de la Castellana. And that, no matter how professional you are, has to either make your legs tremble or make you want to bite the turf.

Rodrygo strikes first

And so it happened on both sides. Real Madrid came out in their Champions League gear and in the first few minutes Atleti were completely at their mercy. Valverde, who was almost left out of the line-up, fed the ball to Rodrygo who, from the right wing, made a diagonal run towards the inside and, with the ball at his feet, he buried it in Oblak’s right-hand corner. A great goal. Madness at the Bernabéu. It was only the 4th minute.

And in the midst of the madness, the first controversial action of the game. Another ball played to Rodrygo ended with a push which, in this case, the referee deemed insufficient to apply the maximum penalty. It did not change the dynamics of a game that seemed to be written in stone. Atlético couldn’t find a way to hurt Real Madrid or, even worse, to stop them. Vini and Rodrygo, unleashed, were two constant daggers down both wings; and Simeone, distraught, couldn’t find a way to stop the white storm.

Atlético equalized with a great goal from Julián Álvarez

But football, like any team sport, is a sport of dynamics, of moments, and on 26th everything changed. Valverde saved a goal on the line when Griezmann only had to push it in. From that moment on, Atleti dominated Madrid and turned the tide of the game. Real Madrid fell asleep, for no apparent reason, and Atlético did not miss the opportunity.

For several minutes, the worst version of Madrid in the league returned. Apathetic, not pressing, not defending and blatantly giving the ball away. Mbappé was not on form, looking for the right wing more and trying to get between the Atleti defenders without success. Vini disappeared. And only Brahim wanted it all. And then came Julián Álvarez’s goal.

A great goal. Camavinga, on the left, tried to steal it, Julián took it with more force, and from the right side, with very little angle, he drove it into the left corner of Courtois’ goal, who could only watch it go in: 1-1 at the Bernabéu. Not much else happened until the break. Real Madrid couldn’t find a way out, they weren’t even causing damage; and Atleti moved the ball from side to side at will, waiting for their moment. The score at half-time was a draw.

Everything changed in the second half

The dynamics continued exactly as they had at the start of the second 45 minutes. Real Madrid were chasing shadows, with the ball no one moved and at times they seemed to be content with the draw. Nor did they excel in defensive tasks. And the Bernabéu, in the 53rd minute, finally lost it. A tremendous booing of their team after an opportunity that De Paul failed to convert. And once again, the Bernabéu changed everything.

Brahim, who seemed to be the only one aware of the importance of the match, invented a goal out of nowhere in the same spot where Julián had scored earlier. He got between two defenders and, with a subtle pass to the net, scored the second goal for Real Madrid in the 55th minute. Atleti put their heads between their legs again while Real Madrid were ready to finish off their opponents.

Ancelotti made his first changes too early for his usual style. Camavinga left to a standing ovation, although his performance was rather lacklustre, as has been the case all season. Modric replaced him and, of course, he was also given a standing ovation. Simeone also took advantage of the moment and sent Gallahager and Molina on to the pitch in place of Giuliano and Lino.

The game entered, once again, the classic tense calm of the Champions League. Atlético, after changing the pattern, defended the result hoping to either punish on the counter-attack or maintain the result; and Real Madrid were looking for the third goal with a little more enthusiasm, but without taking too many risks. Meanwhile, Griezmann was substituted and Le Normand came on in the 70th minute. Not much happened after that and Simeone continued with his string of substitutions: Barrios and De Paul out, Correa and Sorloth in.

Real Madrid win and everything will be decided at the Metropolitano

In the last minutes of the game, as the Spanish saying goes, hunger met with the desire to eat. Atleti remained comfortable in defense with their back five and Real Madrid were unable to even tickle them. Valverde had to leave in the 83rd minute for Lucas Vázquez. The Uruguayan had come on at the last minute after recovering from an injury that, it seemed, was going to prevent him from starting. As things stood, the game faded away with the 22 players thinking about next Wednesday at the Metropolitano. Mbappé missed a pass in injury time which, had it been a good one, would have been Real Madrid’s third. Vini was waiting alone in front of the goal but the Frenchman was not having an easy day.

Real Madrid won in a strange game, at times worse than good, against an Atleti side that, apart from the first 15 minutes, executed their plan to perfection. Even so, Ancelotti’s team take a positive result, not a definitive one, which they will have to confirm in the always complicated Rojiblanco stadium. Everything is up in the air and a goal advantage which, as always, never seems enough in any game at the Bernabéu.