What didn’t happen in the classic between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid? He had everything in the Spanish capital derby that ended in an agonizing 1-1 draw for Diego Simeone’s Atlético who, in addition to Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo De Paul, started Julián Álvarez although as a left midfielder. Ángel Correa entered and equalized in injury time when the merengue team was savoring victory in a match that was interrupted by a shower of lighters. Thus, the two remained undefeated, but did not take advantage of the defeat of the leader Barcelona.
The setting, unmatched, with 70,112 spectators filling the Metropolitan Stadium and breaking an attendance record. The weather was sensational, with a perfect mosaic decorating the stands in a historic reception. Football was missing, which took a while to get together since the two were more worried in the first half about ruining the other’s plans.
With a mirror formation (4-4-2), Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, without the injured Kylian Mbappé, neutralized each other at the beginning. The first sample was given by Cholo with a tactical formation in which he chose to place a spicy forward like Julián: left midfielder. Opened on the left wing, Calchín’s Spider could not score. He had only one clear shot in that first half and his shot was deactivated by an attentive Thibaut Courtois.
That was, in fact, the only real risk that the local team generated in that stage in which the white team tested the opposing goalkeeper a little more. Jon Oblak took a shot off Federico Valverde and another off Jude Bellingham.
The duel only went back and forth in the second half. Atleti came out with greater determination and quickly there was danger in both areas. But the one that got it right was Ancelotti’s painting. Luka Modric opened a free kick to the left for Vinicius. The Brazilian sent the last cross and his compatriot Eder Militao controlled and defined it.
Courtois, from Real Madrid, turned around and celebrated facing the Atlético people, who responded by throwing lighters and other projectiles. Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer did not mess around and at 23 minutes he opted to make a clean cut and stop the game. Not only that, he sent both teams to the locker room until everything calmed down. Simeone had to approach the stands to ask for calm. After about 10 minutes, the action resumed.
Simeone moved the bench. He put Correa in, but took out Alvarez to find the tie. It turned out well: Angelito dove into the void, eluded the goalkeeper and nailed the agonizing equality, which was assessed in the second instance by the VAR. And there was justice.