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Goal… and dance

The match opened with intensity in the capital, a derby that felt more like a battle for momentum than a routine football game. The visitors pressed high, while Simeone.defaulted to a sharp, aggressive approach, pairing Griezmann with Joao Felix to inject pace and danger into Madrid’s defensive shape. The back line relied on a threesome, with Koke and Kondogbia shielded by De Paul, creating a compact, disciplined fortress in midfield. Real Madrid lined up with confidence, Rodrygo playing as the focal point of attack and Vinicius Junior waiting for the right moment to spark the break.

From the outset, the game carried a drumbeat of urgency. The pace was brisk, the tackles firm, and both sides failed to settle into a quiet rhythm. Courtois produced a series of early saves that underscored Madrid’s intent to withstand pressure and strike on the counter. Ancelotti directed his players to keep the ball moving and let the field open up, a tactic that would define the half’s key moments. In the 18th minute, a clever Rodrygo run found Tchouaméni on the left, the midfielder’s diagonal ball threading through to Rodrygo who finished clinically past Oblak. The goal was celebrated with a spark and a display of coordinated celebration between Rodrygo and Vinicius, a sign of the growing chemistry between the young forward and his compatriot. Among the onlookers, some supporters shouted in excitement, while others expressed relief that the game had finally found its tempo.

A simulated highlight from that moment shows the ball slipping past Oblak and landing in the back of the net as Rodrygo celebrated with Vinicius, a scene captured in post-match social media recaps [Attribution: Real Madrid official media].

As the first half unfolded, Madrid began to control the tempo, moving the ball with purpose and exploiting Madrid’s counterattack structure. Modric and Kroos dictated the rhythm, while Tchouaméni added youthful energy and directness in midfield. Madrid’s pressing lines compressed the pitch effectively, hindering Atlético’s attempts to build from the back. Valverde joined the attack with purpose, and his late first-half run yielded a second for the visitors when a ball fell kindly to him in the box and he rifled home. At the break, Madrid’s performance suggested that a well-drilled counterattack could be the decisive weapon against a destabilized Atlético side.

In the second period, Simeone shuffled his pieces, moving Llorente into a more forward-facing role to unlock additional avenues for his attackers. Griezmann and Joao Felix continued to provide movement and unpredictability, testing Madrid’s flanks and center-back pairing. The match settled into a tense, textured exchange, with the ball moving between midfield battles and quick transitions. Madrid, managing the pace with Modric and Kroos, looked to space the ball and exploit gaps opened by Atlético’s shifting setup. The home side, though persistent, found it hard to sustain sustained pressure and faced a defense that absorbed the onslaught and then broke decisively with speed on the break.

The narrative shifts as Atlético adjusted their midfield shape, seeking to crowd Madrid’s passing lanes and force errors. Joao Felix stayed active in the engine room, while Griezmann tried to thread through passes that would unlock a stubborn Madrid defense. The game’s flow resembled a chess match with rapid tempo changes rather than a straightforward scrimmage, and as the clock ticked down, Atlético appeared to lean on a late surge rather than a sustained crest of momentum.

From a tactical lens, Madrid’s control of the middle third, aided by the incisive diagonals from Modric and the relentless pressing from Vinicius and Rodrygo, kept Atlético on the back foot. The visitors managed to threaten again through a series of quick combinations, but Atlético’s resolve and organizational discipline prevented a further breakthrough. The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought victory for Real Madrid, a result that reinforced their unbeaten record and increased the distance over their rivals in this early-season chapter. In contrast, Atlético left the pitch with unfinished business and questions to answer about balance and intensity in the second half of derbies against Madrid.

PLATE: ATLÉTICO 1-REAL MADRID 2

ATHLETIC: Oblak; Llorente, Felipe, Witsel, Reinildo, Carrasco; De Paul, Kondogbia, Koke; Griezmann, Joao Felix. Coach: Simeone. Alterations: Morata, Joao Félix, Cunha, Hermoso, Correa, Saul.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Modric, Tchouaméni, Kroos; Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. Coach: Ancelotti. Changes: Rüdiger, Camavinga, Ceballos, Asensio.
TARGETS: 0-1 Rodrygo (min. 18), 0-2 Valverde (min. 35), 1-2 Hermoso (min. 82).
JUDGE: Munuera Montero. Hermoso sent off after a double yellow in stoppage time. Reinildo warned Mendy and Carvajal.
STADIUM: Metropolitan Civitas. 66,500 spectators.

Note: This account summarizes official match events and is supported by post-match reports and highlights from club communications.