Real Madrid prevails with 'punch' in the derby

Rodrygo and Valverde give Real Madrid the victory, which returns to the lead, while Hermoso cut back for the rojiblancos

   MADRID, 18 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid won with 'punch' in the derby against Atlético de Madrid this Sunday with goals from Rodrygo and Fede Valverde, a serious victory for the whites that allows them to climb back to the top of the table before the break of selections, while Simeone's men did not take advantage of a first rush boosted by the stands, and only believed in the final stretch when they approached the scoreboard.

Ancelotti's men were more effective and practical on the pitch, taking advantage of the only two dangerous approaches in the first half to put a crucial game on track in the first half for the Whites' aspirations, who are leaders with two points more than FC Barcelona. The defeat leaves a poor Atlético very touched that went from more to less, now tenth in the table with 10 units.

As is typical in this type of match, the duel began with some scuffle that increased, if possible, the decibels of the Metropolitan and the tension on the pitch. The first chance fell on the side of the locals in the 5th minute, somewhat more active at the start. Felipe chose to finish off and not prolong a cross with a lot of air in a free kick, but the ball grazed the crossbar.

Real Madrid, who despite that first rojiblanco arreón was not uncomfortable, was able to respond three minutes later with a cross from the right by Tchouaméni, but Vinicius did not get to finish off with the head by a hair. In the exchange of blows, it was the turn of Simeone's men, who took advantage of a robbery in the white field to launch a transition led by Carrasco, who finished from the right to the side of the net of the goal defended by Courtois.

However, the heated atmosphere that reigned in the Metropolitano faded in the 18th minute, when Rodrygo converted the Whites' first approach into a goal. Valverde started strongly from his field beating rival lines to enable the left. Mendy passes to the Brazilian number '21', who plays with Tchouameni and he returns it with a beautiful touch over the red and white defense, seeing Rodrygo uncheck, who at the first touch beat Oblak by his post and made it 0-1.

But the Metropolitan boiled again seven minutes later, with a distant shot from Griezmann that forced Courtois to stretch and reject a corner kick, a corner kick that also ended on a red and white occasion in the form of a header. Real Madrid gradually became more comfortable with the ball, and in the 28th minute Rodrygo, once again the protagonist, was knocked down by Reinildo in a run from the right, a controversial move, since the Atletico defender used his squad at mid-height to cut off the attack. Munuera Montero sanctioned the action with a yellow card, and the VAR did not correct him.

The two goals in favor gave Real Madrid more confidence and peace of mind, which gradually slept through the game until the break. That calmer tone proposed by the Whites lasted into the second half, where the pace and heart rate slowed down, to the benefit of Ancelotti's men.

Real Madrid's tactical framework was enough to neutralize Atleti's desire to get closer to the goal defended by Courtois. The Belgian would be the protagonist with about ten minutes remaining, with a false start in a corner kick, failing with his fist and allowing Hermoso, with his shoulder, to reduce distances and put the 1-2 in the Metropolitan.

From here, Simeone's team, subdued since the break, began to believe in the draw and the comeback, increasing the pressure, although without much order. It was barely played in the final stretch of the duel, for a tangana starring Hermoso and Carvajal that ended with both being reprimanded. The 'rojiblanco' central defender would end up being sent off for a double yellow card, after the referee understood in minute 91 that he had confronted Ceballos before a corner.

--RESULT: ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 - REAL MADRID, 2 (0-2, at halftime).

ATLETICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Felipe, Witsel, Reinildo; Llorente, De Paul (Morata, min.62), Koke (Correa, min.73), Kondogbia (Saúl, min.81), Carrasco (Hermoso, min.72); Joao Felix (Cunha, min.62) and Griezmann.

REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy (Rüdiger, min.75); Tchouameni, Modric (Camavinga, 82nd min), Kroos (Asensio, 86th min); Valverde, Vinicius and Rodrygo (Ceballos, min.86).

0-1, min.18: Rodrygo.

0-2, min.36: Valverde.

1-2, min.83: Beautiful.

--REFEREE: Munuera Montero (C.Andaluz). He admonished Reinildo (min.28), Koke (min.63) and Hermoso (min.89) by Atlético de Madrid and Mendy (min.33) and Carvajal (min.89) by Real Madrid. I expel Hermoso for a double yellow card (min. 91).

--STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano. 66,881 spectators.