Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Match recap

Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in a rather frustrating match. Here is our match recap as it happened.

First half

Manager Zinedine Zidane rolled out with his classic 4-4-2 formation with Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio on the flanks with Gareth Bale paired up front with Cristiano Ronaldo. Modric was rested for Kovacic, with Casemiro also getting some well earned rest with Kroos starting alongside the Croatian.

This game followed the classic Madrid derby template. Los Blancos had all the possession in Atleti’s half, had a number of half chances, but were still vulnerable enough in defense to concede a few chances that made the first half a close run affair.

Real Madrid dominated the opening 45 minutes and hit the post within the first 10 minutes. Kroos and Asensio combined from a short corner with the young Spaniard’s shot hitting the post.

Madrid had a few chances from set pieces with Los Rojiblancos entering the game with one of the worst defensive set piece record in the league.

Another corner resulted in a flick to the back post to Ronaldo who tried to thrust the ball into the net, but was denied by Oblak. Raphael Varane then went close from a set piece but his shot was denied from a tight angle by Jan Oblak.

The last and best chance of the first half came from Marcelo who had his shot rattle off the corner of the post, Dani Carvajal followed up on the deflection, but his fierce shot was denied by, you guessed it, Jan Oblak again!

Atletico Madrid most notable chance in the first half was probably Costa’s near post shot that was denied by Navas, having said that, the visitors would have been delighted to go in at the break scoreless.

Second half

Madrid opted for more patience at the start of the second half, holding on to possession in Atletico Madrid’s half, waiting for a chance to cross the ball into Ronaldo. Their patience eventually paid off when a wonderful cross from Bale was met by even better volley from Cristiano Ronaldo to put the hosts into a deserved 1-0 lead.

In typical Atletico style, however, the lead didn’t last for long, as a defensive calamity from Madrid allowed Griezmann to tap home into an empty net. He has now scored in three derbies at the Bernabéu in a row (never scored when it counted though). 

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Madrid then nearly coughed up a second when Koke found acres of space in the Madrid penalty area, but was denied by a fantastic Keylor Navas save. After conceding the goal, Madrid continued to hunt for a winner, however they struggled to find the lethal finish following Ronaldo substitution midway through the second half.

It was only when Isco and Modric came on in the last fifteen that Madrid makde Atleti look uncomfortable again.

The visitors didn’t have many chances after Koke’s miss although Angel Correa nearly latched onto a ball in the box that would have left him one on one with Keylor Navas.

Real Madrid continued to hunt for a winner right up to the full time whistle, but their efforts went in vain and the derby, as it did last year, finished 1-1. The point didn’t do Madrid any favors with Real dropping down to fourth after Valencia beat Espanyol.

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