Real Madrid held to 0-0 stalemate against Atletico Madrid

Second Half

The second stanza of the match was the thriller, just like how many of Madrid’s games have been this season. It was full of plenty of chances, of course, all missed. With all the madness that ensued came the snippy nature of the Derby. Six of the seven yellow cards that were handed out by referee Juan Martinez Munuera came in the latter 45 minutes.

Real Madrid held onto possession and attack in waves but some players were a little too selfless around the box. There were several opportunities for Madrid to test Oblak but their hesitation left many puzzled.

Dani Ceballos was a fan favourite amongst many. The young man is getting plenty of opportunity under Loepetegui, something we didn’t see much of under Zidane. Ceballos twisted and turned away from defenders with ease. His agility and fresh legs were a huge asset for Real Madrid.

Marco Asensio had some of the best chances of the game but of course wasn’t able to put them away. His pressing and resilience had him racing up the pitch on numerous accounts but the final piece continued to be absent. Whether it be his shot or the pass to the open player. On the bright side, he stepped up in the second half much more after a very quiet opening 45.

In the dying minutes of the match Real continued to try and push forward, but it was to no avail. While the scoreline was not able to affect the table the way fans would have liked there are positive takeaways from the match. Madrid played with the intensity and fluidity the team will strive for every season.

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