Actual striker Kylian Mbappe’s second-half equaliser cancels out Julian Alvarez’s penalty for Atletico in Madrid derby.
Kylian Mbappe scored in his first derby in opposition to Atletico Madrid as Actual Madrid fought again for a 1-1 draw and stored its slim lead within the Spanish league.
Julian Alvarez put Atletico forward from the penalty spot within the thirty fifth minute at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The kick was awarded after the referee was referred to as to evaluation a problem by Aurelien Tchouameni on Samuel Lino.
Mbappe equalised within the fiftieth minute for the hosts, who’ve stayed one level forward of second-placed Atletico within the standings, after latching onto a blocked effort by Jude Bellingham to fit residence.
Bellingham hit the crossbar with a header as Madrid looked for a second aim, whereas Atletico goalkeeper Jan Olbak made saves to disclaim Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior and Mbappe to separate the factors within the Spanish capital.
“We knew methods to hold in there and had our probabilities,” Alvarez mentioned. “We’re within the combat and can keep in it proper to the tip.”
Atletico, who spent massive final summer time to accumulate Alvarez and different reinforcements, are attempting so as to add to league titles in 2021 and 2014 beneath coach Diego Simeone.
They arrived in fantastic kind, having received 19 of their earlier 21 video games in all competitions, and so they confirmed why they’ve the very best defence in Europe’s high 5 leagues with 15 targets conceded in 23 video games.
On Saturday, regardless of shedding defensive stalwart Robin Le Normand to suspension, Simeone’s aspect was as soon as once more rock-solid on the again, irritating Actual’s stellar assault who have been unable to create a single shot on course within the first half.
Actual coach Carlo Ancelotti was fast to simply accept that it was a recreation of two halves: “We managed the second half nicely. We scored and had probabilities. We performed an excellent second half. First half was completely different. We have been very gradual and never aggressive sufficient.
“The penalty affected the group. After the penalty, and earlier than, we have been enjoying very gradual. We didn’t benefit from the sector. Within the second half, we opened the sector and made it wider, and took benefit of that. We created a number of issues within the second half,” he mentioned.
A spate of accidents left Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti counting on a makeshift backline of Lucas Vázquez, common midfielder Tchouameni, youth participant Raul Asencio, and Fran García.
It was the reckless stretch of his boot by Tchouameni that ended up tripping Lino but it surely nonetheless required VAR to intervene for the kick to be awarded.
Former Manchester Metropolis striker Alvarez gently stroked his penalty down the center as Thibaut Courtois dived to his left.
Antoine Griezmann confirmed once more his nice worth to Atletico with precision passing even beneath duress. The French midfielder twice positioned completely weighted balls that left Alvarez and Lino in a very good place to get off photographs inside the realm, however clumsy touches by each ruined the alternatives.
Rodrygo sparked the Madrid comeback simply after halftime when he dribbled previous Javi Galan and Lino on the suitable aspect and slipped a ball to Bellingham within the coronary heart of the field.
Bellingham’s scuffed shot hit a defender and fell to Mbappe, who had missed the primary Atletico derby of the season – a 1-1 attract September – due to harm, to rifle residence for his first aim in opposition to Actual’s cross-city rivals.
Madrid poured ahead trying to find a second aim with Atletico rattled. Vinicius dribbled down the left aspect and scooped the ball for Bellingham, who smashed a header off the woodwork.
Simeone modified each his fullbacks with Reinildo and Nahuel Molina within the 63rd, however Oblak nonetheless needed to come to Atletico’s rescue on three events.
“Within the first half, we performed very nicely,” Simeone mentioned. “Within the second half, they scored instantly, then hit the bar. It was very intense.
“After 20 minutes within the second half, we additionally had our alternatives … Julian [Alvarez] slipped on one, [Marcos] Llorente a few occasions. On the finish, it was a draw, [but] each groups thought they might win the sport.”
Barcelona, in third place, at the moment are 5 factors behind Madrid forward of their journey to Sevilla on Sunday.
