Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid stunned league leaders Atletico tonight, to win the Madrid Derby and three crucial points in pursuit of the 2021 La Liga title.
Atleti stay top of the table despite the loss but could be deposed when Real Sociedad play tomorrow, while Real, who started six points adrift of Los Rojiblancos having played a game more, are back in the hunt.
Two wins last week took the pressure off Zinedine Zidane, and the Real boss will have a spring in his step when he brings his players in for training on Monday.
The La Liga 2020 betting odds were backing Atleti as favourites to win the title for the first time since 2014, odds on at 1.95 before this round of league games, and no wonder as they arrived at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on a run of seven consecutive league wins.
But an early header from Casemiro and a second half own goal by keeper Jan Oblak made it a night to forget for Diego Simeone’s team.
Highlights of the game
For a side on such a fantastic run of form, this was quite a performance for Atleti to throw in on such a big occasion. They were abject throughout the first half and were lucky to go into the break just a single goal down.
The first piece of action was a clumsy foul by Kieran Trippier on Casemiro. Manchester United are reported to be interested in signing Trippier; he’s a tough defender and a dangerous wing-back but like the rest of his team he had an off night tonight.
I suspect Real Madrid couldn’t believe their luck. They dominated the ball while Los Rojiblancos just sat back and let them, and when the opening goal came it was bizarre to watch a team which has conceded just two goals in the opening ten matches defend like amateurs.
Toni Kroos sent over a corner and the Atleti defence just stood and watched as Casemiro thundered his header past Jan Oblak and into the net.
Simeone had seen enough at the break and made a triple change, bringing on Thomas Lemar, Angel Correa and Lodi, but that didn’t change the pattern of the game.
Atleti fans were delighted to see that Luis Suarez was back in the line-up having shaken off his dose of COVID-19, but he was largely anonymous as Sergio Ramos had him in his pocket. But Simeone stuck with him and when he made a fourth substitution he took off Joao Felix to bring on Saul, and the young Portuguese striker was visibly angered.
Felix has been proving his worth for Atletico this season and there were other players Simeone could have hooked. He kicked a seat in the stands and looked inconsolable; such is his passion for his team.
But while Felix’s game was over it became worse on the pitch for the 11 players still there, when Real doubled their lead with a big stroke of luck. Daniel Carvajal had a free-kick which he lifted over the defensive wall and onto the crossbar, but it hit Oblak and bounced back into the net.
Atleti’s substitutes tried to haul their team back into the game and Lodi crossed for Saul but Thibaut Courtois saved. Thomas Lemar then fired one over the bar, but there was no rescuing this game for the league leaders.
Key statistics
The pre-match odds here at SBOTOP made Real Madrid slight favourites at 2.48 and the result was never in doubt. The hosts had 56 per cent possession and won the shot count 11 to five, and three to one on target.
Los Blancos are now unbeaten in six encounters at home to Atletico, while the visitors run of ten matches unbeaten away from home, as well as their seven match winning streak, is over.
What’s next?
Simeone and Zidane can now take a breather, for one day only, as they watch the La Liga 2020 news tomorrow, particularly in the Basque Country, where Real Sociedad host Eibar, and in Catalonia, where Barcelona entertain Levante.
Next up Los Blancos have a home fixture against Athletic Bilbao, and then a trip to Eibar. Both are games against midtable sides that Real should win, though Bilbao earned a decent point in a 2-2 draw away to Valencia earlier today.
Atletico have a Copa del Rey date away to Tercera Division side Cardassar, where Simeone will be able to rest his key players before a home league game against Elche.
The top flight new boys have made an impressive start and have amassed 14 points from ten games, but in a very tight division they don’t have much breathing space and Primera Division survival is their aim.
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