Kylian Mbappe secured Real Madrid a 1-1 draw towards rivals Atletico Madrid which stored Los Blancos prime of La Liga on Saturday. Julian Alvarez dinked dwelling a controversial first half penalty for Atletico however Mbappe was in the best place on the proper time to bundle dwelling early within the second half on his first look within the tense derby conflict. Reigning champions Real Madrid lead second-place Atletico by a single level, with Barcelona, third, given the prospect to chop the hole on the highest two once they face Sevilla on Sunday.
Atletico shaded an in depth first half however had been left holding on within the second interval because the hosts stepped up a gear on the Santiago Bernabeu.
“The group is dissatisfied as a result of they suppose they deserved extra… however we’re glad as a result of we’re nonetheless leaders,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti instructed reporters.
“In the second half we had whole management, we had a variety of possibilities.”
Ancelotti opted to deploy his 4 key attacking gamers in Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes, in lieu of a extra conservative method.
The star names received caught in, not at all times a given in a defensive sense, and the primary half was a hard-fought, intense battle with few clear openings for both facet.
Atletico had been upset when Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos was solely booked for an unsightly problem on Pablo Barrios, but it surely was the hosts who had been left raging when referee Cesar Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot.
Aurelien Tchouameni, masking at centre-back for Madrid with Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao out amongst others, clumsily trod on Samuel Lino’s foot within the field.
After a VAR overview Soto Grado awarded a controversial penalty to Madrid’s frustration, with the incident taking place after the ball had run previous the duo.
Los Blancos attacked Spanish refereeing earlier within the week after they had been upset by a call in a shock defeat final weekend, bringing heavy scrutiny on the officers forward of the derby.
Alvarez took the penalty, the primary given towards Madrid in La Liga this season, and cheekily executed a Panenka down the center.
“I can not say I wasn’t a bit nervous (with the penalty), however I used to be certain, I knew what I’d do, and it was a fantastic aim for the group,” Alvarez instructed Movistar.
“Corruption within the federation,” chanted Real Madrid followers in response to falling behind, shopping for into their membership’s stance.
Ancelotti refused to speak concerning the refereeing however appeared exasperated on the sideline as Soto Grado pointed to the spot.
Madrid battle again
Madrid pulled stage early within the second half when Rodrygo broke free on the best of the field and crossed for Bellingham.
The England worldwide’s shot was blocked however Mbappe was available to show dwelling the rebound and rating on his first Madrid derby look.
Bellingham twice got here near placing Madrid forward, nodding towards the crossbar from Vinicius’ cross after which heading straight at Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak from the same place, kicking the put up in frustration.
Madrid performed with way more fluidity within the second half and pegged Atletico again.
Oblak made a wise save to disclaim Vinicius after the Brazilian winger burst by way of the hole between two Atletico defenders and pulled the set off from a decent angle.
The Slovenian goalkeeper additionally made positive saves from Rodrygo and Mbappe to make sure the 2 sides ended with a degree apiece.
“We had first half, however we weren’t relaxed sufficient in entrance of aim to (rating) extra,” mentioned Simeone.
“In the tip it was a draw wherein each groups suppose they might have taken extra from it.”
Real Madrid face one other large problem on Tuesday once they journey to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City within the Champions League play-off spherical first leg.
Earlier Athletic Bilbao, fourth, beat Girona 3-0 with an Oihan Sancet hat-trick to keep up their Champions League cost.
Antony, on mortgage from Manchester United, netted his first aim for Real Betis in a 3-2 defeat by Celta Vigo.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
