Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid Share the Spoils in Madrid Derby
The Madrid Derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the 23rd round of La Liga. The match saw Atletico take the lead through Julian Alvarez’s penalty kick in the 35th minute, while Real Madrid responded with a second-half equalizer by Kylian Mbappe in the 50th minute.
This draw ensures that Real Madrid remain at the top of La Liga with 50 points, just one point ahead of their city rivals Atletico, who are in second place. Barcelona, who currently sit third with 45 points, can close the gap to just two points if they defeat Sevilla on Sunday.
Early Pressure from Real Madrid
The match began with intense pressure from Real Madrid, with the home side dominating possession. In the 7th minute, Real’s Rodrigo unleashed a powerful shot that flew just over Atletico’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Atletico responded with a shot from Samu Lino on the edge of the penalty area, but it went over the bar in the 13th minute.
Vinicius Junior came close to opening the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute, with a shot from the edge of the area that narrowly missed the left post. Despite their best efforts, Real Madrid struggled to break down Atletico’s defense.
Atletico Take the Lead
In the 32nd minute, Real Madrid were awarded a penalty after a challenge by Samuel Lino on Aurelien Tchouameni. After a review by VAR, the referee pointed to the spot. Atletico’s Julian Alvarez stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute.
Despite a late attempt to respond before the break, Real Madrid couldn’t find the equalizer, and Atletico went into halftime with a slender 1-0 advantage.
Mbappe’s Equalizer in the Second Half
The second half saw Real Madrid quickly bounce back, with Kylian Mbappe scoring the equalizer in the 50th minute. Rodrygo sent a cross into the area that was initially struck by Jude Bellingham but rebounded to Mbappe, who made no mistake in putting the ball into the net.
Real Madrid were now back on level terms, but Atletico remained resilient, defending well to keep the game locked. In the 53rd minute, Bellingham missed a golden opportunity to put Real Madrid ahead when he headed the ball off the crossbar.
Close Calls for Both Teams
As the match progressed, both sides continued to push for a winner. Atletico’s Giuliano Simeone wasted a chance in the 59th minute when he failed to convert a cross inside the penalty area, shooting straight into the arms of Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Vinicius Junior nearly gave Real Madrid the lead in the 72nd minute with a powerful shot, but Oblak was on hand to make the save and turn the ball behind for a corner.
Rodrygo then had a chance in the 81st minute, but his rocket shot narrowly missed the left post. Real Madrid continued to press for a late winner, and Mbappe almost snatched it in the 89th minute. However, Oblak pulled off another great save to deny the Frenchman’s attempt from inside the area.
Final Whistle Seals a Draw
Despite the late efforts, neither team could find a decisive goal, and the Madrid Derby ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Both teams remain in the hunt for the La Liga title, with Real Madrid still maintaining a slim lead at the top of the table.
