The Real Champs
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Real Madrid crush stellar Atletico defense in Madrid Derby

By Mushtaq Nizamdin

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 9: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates 1-3 with Luka Modric of Real Madrid, Toni Kroos of Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 9, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 9: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates 1-3 with Luka Modric of Real Madrid, Toni Kroos of Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 9, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale (R) scores next to Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid against Real Madrid CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on February 9, 2019. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP) (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale (R) scores next to Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid against Real Madrid CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on February 9, 2019. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP) (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) /

Second Half

The second half picked up with the same intensity as the opening 45, but Atletico looked the more likely to score.

Alvaro Morata was a pain in the behind for Real Madrid, as he looked vengeful against his old side. The striker scored a beautiful chipped goal but the go-ahead goal was called back as VAR deemed him to be offside. Trying to show off his acting skills Morata also tried to earn himself a penalty which the referees saw right through.

Griezman and company had several shots on target but Courtois stood tall in goal.

If the first-half looked scrappy the second-half was it’s the big bad older brother. The referee let the crosstown rivals battle it out but kept things from blowing up by showing a total of seven yellow cards. This also resulted in Atletico going down a man.

That being said, Real had to sacrifice on some plays as Atleti’s men were penetrating through the middle of the park ready to create a goal scoring opportunity.

Solari’s decision to bring on Gareth Bale turned out to be the perfect move as he scored the third goal of the match, which was also the nail in the coffin.

Bale’s 100th goal with Real Madrid proved to be decisive as former Tottenham Spurs men lined up for the beauty. Luka Modric’s through ball to the oncoming Welshman was pivotal in turning the game on its head.

From that point on Atleti were deflated and unable to get a firm grip on the match. Casemiro along with the backline stepped up big to usher out any possible threats and shock Diego Simeone’s men.

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