Real Madrid had the League. They have moved themselves four points clear of Girona, ten points clear of Barça and 13 points clear of Atlético, and host Míchel’s team at the Bernabéu next Saturday to put them seven points clear. But everything went up in smoke when Llorente caught a ball that was as poorly defended as Brahim’s goal in the red and white area. The match ended in a trilogy of goal-laden derbies, with both teams left relatively satisfied; The whites won the Super Cup after clearly beating Simeone’s team (5-3) and Atlético in the Cup semi-final. by beating whites (4-2) and without azulgranas. Goals from Brahim and Llorente secured a draw in a controversial league match; Sánchez Martínez’s assistant, Raúl Cabañero, canceled out Savic’s goal as the referee ran towards the middle of the field, and the whites angrily complained about a goal. Possible penalty for Bellingham.
The match started without the opening whistle. Ancelotti chose Carvajal as the centre-back, lost the aerial play and gained starts. But the news came during the warm-up. Vinicius and Rodrygo were declared on top but Joselu began to warm up to the overall surprise. Vinicius noticed some discomfort in his neck and it was assumed that the striker would replace him until Brahim took the field.It is more similar to Brazil because of its electricity and access to space. In addition, Carletto switched left to Rodrygo and right to Brahim, giving him leg play, with Bellingham in the mid lane as a false 9. Simeone took cover with his classic 5-3-2 but sharpened the flanks with two attacking wingers in Llorente and Riquelme, who went to Vinicius. Something he made up for with an extremely defensive three-pointer, with Saúl and De Paul covering Koke’s back.
Madrid made three shots in the first five minutes (Bellingham, Brahim and Camavinga) and finished each one by going behind. Atlético’s first opportunity, Morata’s shot in the 7th minute, coincided with Griezmann’s emergence. This game was not foreign to anyone; Neither Madrid, which dominated the ball, nor Atletico, who crouched down. As the minutes ticked by, the Colchoneros began to set up the derby, expanding the field and hanging balls to take advantage of Madrid’s aerial weakness.
Brahim’s goal and Savic’s one goal were disallowed
And then In a seemingly innocent play, Atlético entered their own half and twice cleared the ball without forcing, favoring White’s rebounds. Brahim found the ball and calmly opened the scoring in the 20th minute. The draw could have come from a center forward where Lunin is not a strong forward, and it could have been Ancelotti’s team’s finishing touch against Atlético’s positional laziness rather than aggression. Half time was reached with Madrid gathering all comers and Simeone’s men saw them coming. The derby came alive but Cholo needed to change the scoreboard as the Metropolitano team had barely added two shots over the top from Savic and Saúl. Symptom of equipment disconnection.
The final part of the trilogy saved a lot of strategy for the second part. Carletto had Joselu, who solved plays by harassing opposing defenses and creating space for his teammates. Simeone had gunpowder on the bench: Barrios, Lino, Memphis… Atlético was more determined and took the first corner of the red-whites. Griezmann’s hard shot was finished by Savic in the small area. Atlético celebrated the goal conceded by Sánchez Martínez, but his assistant did not run to the centre, commenting that Saúl, who was offside, had blocked Lunin. Seconds later, Lucas Vázquez called for a penalty in the visiting area, which the referee ignored. Just like the Bernabéu asked Savic in the 60th minute against Bellingham.
Unanimity on the bench: Referee disaster
Simeone brought his entire arsenal to the field with Barrios, Memphis, Lino and Correa. Sánchez Martínez, both on the bench and in the classic “Corruption in the Federation!” He managed to create consensus among the crowd chanting the slogan. There was no owner of the derby and Ancelotti and Simeone were screaming on the sidelines, reorganizing their people. While the Colchoneros were dying with everyone playing in the opposition half and the ball at their feet, Carletto used Joselu to avoid his opponent’s high pressure. In a brilliant personal move, the striker replaced Brahim, who emerged to applause after scoring the second goal.
In the final stretch, Lunin made a stop that justified the Ukrainian team putting the ball into play after Griezmann’s heel went over his leg as he was heading towards the goal. Madrid was already making calculations and trying to hold on to the League, but the white team’s cross was not cleared and Llorente came from behind and sent the ball into the net, punishing the doubts of the white defense. Draw in a derby with more controversy than football.