MY ACCOUNT
Teenage forward Alvaro Rodriguez came off the bench to rescue Real Madrid in a dramatic 1-1 derby draw with 10-man Atletico Madrid, heading a late equaliser to cancel out Jose Gimenez’s goal.
Despite half-time substitute Angel Correa controversially seeing red for a push on Antonio Rudiger, Atleti looked set for a famous win at Santiago Bernabeu when Gimenez headed them into the lead with 12 minutes left.
However, 18-year-old Alvaro rose to nod Luka Modric’s corner beyond Jan Oblak with five minutes remaining, scoring his first senior goal for Los Blancos in dramatic fashion.
While Madrid will be relieved to have avoided a surprise defeat, they are now seven points adrift of LaLiga leaders Barcelona, who could extend that gap to 10 points when they visit Almeria on Sunday.
Madrid created several half-chances early on, Marco Asensio forcing Jan Oblak into an awkward stop before Karim Benzema sent two wild efforts over the crossbar.
Yannick Carrasco then stung Thibaut Courtois’ palms with a low drive at the other end, but Atleti were largely content to sit deep and frustrate Madrid in a low-key opening half.
Atleti’s task was made all the more daunting after 64 minutes, and Diego Simeone’s men could feel hard done-by as Correa was controversially dismissed for an innocuous push to Rudiger’s chest on the halfway line.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Atleti continued to contain Madrid before hitting the front from a deep free-kick, Gimenez glancing Antoine Griezmann’s delivery home.
However, another set-piece was to prove crucial as the hosts provided one final twist, Alvaro heading Modric’s cross into the bottom-right corner to ensure the spoils were shared.
What does it mean? Champions’ aspirations dented despite late drama
While Alvaro’s late intervention denied Atleti the bragging rights and means Madrid have lost just one of their last 14 league games against their cross-city rivals (W6 D7), it may be too little, too late for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Los Blancos’ failure to see off their depleted visitors means Barcelona could move 10 points clear in the title race on Sunday. With the Blaugrana only dropping points three times all season up to now, Madrid’s hopes of retaining their title look to be slipping away.
Alvaro takes Higuain record
Regardless of the outcome of the title race, Saturday’s derby will live long in the memory of Alvaro. At the age of 18 years and 226 days, he became the youngest player to score in a Madrid derby in LaLiga this century.
If he goes on to enjoy a career anywhere near as prolific as the previous record holder Gonzalo Higuain – who scored against Atleti aged 19 years and 76 days in 2007, the Uruguay Under-20 international will have done well.
Red mist descends for visitors
Atleti have not enjoyed much joy in Madrid derbies this campaign, losing the return fixture in LaLiga 2-1 and being dumped out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage by their rivals last month.
Having had Mario Hermoso sent off in September’s 2-1 defeat to Madrid, Atleti have picked up a red card in consecutive league meetings with Los Blancos for the first time this century.
Key Opta Facts:
– Real Madrid have lost just one of their last 14 games against Atleti in LaLiga (W6 D7), 1-0 away in May 2022.
– Atleti ended a run of four games without scoring away from home against Madrid in LaLiga, ending their worst such run against them in the competition.
– Nacho has played his 200th game in LaLiga, all of them for Real Madrid (W140 D36 L24).
– Diego Simeone has equalled Luis Aragones as the Atleti coach with the most games in all competitions (612). The Argentinian has also registered the most managerial games in LaLiga for a single team ever (425 – 424 for Miguel Munoz with Real Madrid).
What’s next?
El Clasico is next up for Madrid, who host Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie on Thursday. Atleti, meanwhile, are next in action at home to Sevilla in LaLiga next Saturday.
