Atlético Madrid defeats Real Madrid thanks to lvaro Morata two goal.
There was no late Jude Bellingham party and no way back this time. The man who scored two injury-time goals in Real Madrid’s last two games, who has six goals in six games and is by far the most significant player in Spain this season, couldn’t find another comic-book moment. Instead, the Englishman’s first derby in Madrid finished with the Metropolitano crowd singing Atlético’s anthem as Diego Simeone led them to a 3-1 triumph.
It also ended with Bellingham being booked for a tackle on ngel Correa, which led to the two teams colliding. That may be understood if it was an act of frustration. Toni Kroos’ spectacular strike had given Real hope shortly before halftime, but two goals from lvaro Morata and another from Antoine Griezmann handed Real a merited victory. It was only their second meeting in the previous 15 meetings between these two titans.
Memphis Depay told ESPN that Atlético were expected to stop Bellingham by scoring two goals, so that the Englishman’s 95th-minute strike would not be enough. If that sounded like an un-Simeone plan, it turned out to be the one they used, this stadium bouncing around, giving a derby noisier than anyone could recall, at least since they left their Calderón home, 22 km south-west of here. Atlético Madrid defeats Real Madrid thanks to lvaro Morata two goal.
It was the ideal complement, and they needed it. Atlético performed as if their footballing lives depended on it, which they may have. They knew that a loss here would leave them 11 points behind Madrid, thereby ending their title hopes before the autumn. Madrid was unable to restrain them in the first 20 minutes. Atlético looked to be coming from everywhere, and the visitors appeared to be unable to cover anyplace, which was suddenly exposed. Fran Garca was battling Marcos Llorente and Nahuel Molina on the left.
If the danger came from there, the critical minutes came from the other side, when Atlético’s Samuel Lino, a winger rather than defence, flew. Lucas Vázquez, a winger playing as a full-back in front of him, was overwhelmed as he watched the Brazilian charge towards him. Two runs resulted in two headers and two goals.
Lino cut inside after only four minutes and produced a beautiful right-foot cross over David Alaba’s head to Morata. Alone in the heart of the box, he rose high and drove the header past Kepa Arrizabalaga. The second came 15 minutes later, when he released Sal guez, who stood the ball up for Griezmann to nod in. There had been another headed opportunity between the two, this time for José Giménez.
The good news for Madrid was that they had conceded the first goal in three of the previous four games – and in the fourth, against Celta, they had also conceded the first goal only to have it ruled out – and had won them all. Furthermore, Atlético knows from personal experience that Madrid are unbeatable. Bellingham had attempted to carry the game, sliding near the edge of the area twice after determined rushes and became the subject of the first two fouls. Alaba’s free kick from one struck the wall.
Every time Atlético got up and running, Madrid would find a way back in, Kroos doing what Kroos does: turning elegantly, waiting for the ball to sit just right, he fired a brilliant low shot into the corner beyond Jan Oblak. The gap was now back to one. The derby was back on, and Madrid were in command. They might have been level shortly before halftime when Alaba pushed Bellingham’s wonderful pass against the post. The ball crossed the line for Eduardo Camavinga to score, but the flag was raised against Antonio Rüdiger.
Instead, Atlético Madrid scored straight after the restart. Another cross from the left wing, another header, and it was three. Guez’s cross was flawless, and Morata’s header was unstoppable. Hermoso’s was nearly flawless not long after, nipping off the bar. Madrid’s vulnerability seemed shocking now. Carlo Ancelotti substituted Ferland Mendy and Nacho Fernández for Vázquez and Garca before the hour, perhaps as an admission of guilt, but also as a recognition that, as much as they were chasing the game now, they needed to stop the bleeding and get back into it.
It was early enough that anything could happen at any time. Joselu, who came on as a sub and finally provided a reference point up front, controlled the chest and set up Rodrygo for a shot that was blocked before Aurelién Tchouaméni fired just wide. Rüdiger’s comparable effort also passed the same post.
Madrid had possession now, if not the clarity or incision required, with Bellingham driving them and wanting the ball all the way over the front line. Crosses and corners were exchanged, but not with the precision of their opponents. And all the while, time passed. Brahim Daz’s arrival provided them with inspiration, but as he fled up the right, Oblak was there to block the shot. There was no escape, not even for them.
