REAL MADRID closed the gap on fierce rivals Atletico Madrid at the top of the La Liga table with a 2-0 win in Spain’s capital.
Casemiro and Dani Carvajal were on the scoresheet for the home side in their deserved victory.
- RESULT: Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
- TV/Live stream: Premier Sports
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Kroos, Benzema, Modric, Casemiro, Vasquez, Vinicius Jr, Mendy
- Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Trippier, Savic, Felipe, Hermoso, Carrasco, Koke, Herrera, Llorente, Surez Felix
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
THAT’S ALL FROM MADRID
Real Madrid appear to be back in business following a dominant 2-0 win over rivals Atletico Madrid at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium.
Real were superior in every way throughout the match and opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a thunderous header by Casemiro.
Los Blancos made it two in the 63rd minute with an incredible shot by Dani Carvajal, which deflected on Jan Oblak’s back and went down as an own goal.
Zinedine Zidane’s men ended Atletico’s undefeated streak in La Liga and are firing up the league table.
Real are now third with only three points separating them from Diego Simeone’s team.
After beating Sevilla away and topping their Champions League group before tonight’s derby win, Real appear to be reinstating themselves as legitimate title contenders this season.
Goodnight
SIMEONE REACTION
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone recognised Real Madrid’s dominance and admitted that improvements need to be made.
Simeone said: “I think we did not start the game well, they started better with the control of the game, they had more of the ball, being better positioned, we could not have the same possession like several other games.
“I take important things from the defeat, surely in the coach level I have to improve, they have been superior.
“We cannot tell something that was not seen.”
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
CARVAJAL CELEBRATION
Dani Carvajal, whose thunderous shot was marked down as an own goal, insists tonight’s result was the perfect way to celebrate the birth of his child.
Carvajal said: “It has been a very difficult week for us.
“We played tonight against a tough Atlético side. We’ll keep going – there are lots of games.
“We’re doing well, its hard to know how the season will play out. It’s not your typical season with injuries etc. We were well on top tonight, pressed high, they had two chances.
“We’re still in a very early stage of the season, but it was important to win tonight and we have Athletic Club during the week.
“I had a new baby this week and there was no better way to celebrate the birth than the way I did!”
NOT GIVING UP
Atletico Madrid captain Koke sent a defiant message following his team’s first league loss of the season.
The midfielder insists the campaign has only just begun and reminded the fans that Atletico are still top of the table.
Koke said: “The league season is long and we’re still top, we’ll go again.
“They have played better than us tonight especially in the first half and they are small margins that make the difference but we continue and go again.
“We almost drew the game. We’re not thinking about who is going to win the league, but just looking forward to the Copa del Rey coming up this week.”
KROOS CONTROL
Toni Kroos put together an incredible and borderline historic performance in the Madrid derby.
Kroos completed 96.7 per cent of his passes, a return rate so impeccable it hasn’t been repeated in La Liga since 2006.
No wonder Real Madrid dominated against such incredible opposition…
STILL UNDEFEATED
As mentioned earlier tonight, Atletico Madrid have been unable to beat Real Madrid in La Liga ever since February 2016.
Their latest defeat at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium marks their fourth loss in nine league matches throughout these last four years.
Real’s run continues, but can they keep it up?
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
UNDEFEATED NO MORE
Atletico Madrid’s undefeated run in La Liga has come to an end.
Atletico started this match having won eight of their first 10 matches in the league.
But Real Madrid managed to end that streak and slow down their title challenge.
Real also became one of the few sides that managed to beat Jan Oblak, who had only conceded two goals before kick-off.
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MATCH STATS
Real Madrid dominated 56.5 per cent of possession as Atletico Madrid picked up the pace following a miserable first half.
As mentioned below, Atletico didn’t produce a single shot in the first 45 minutes but got five in the second half.
Real had a total of 11 shots, three on target, whereas Atleti only managed one shot on Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
A far more busy night for Jan Oblak who made two crucial saves.
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
FT: REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
Real Madrid pick up a huge victory in the Madrid derby thanks to a goal by Casemiro and an own-goal by Jan Oblak.
Casemiro opened the scoring after 15 minutes and a stunning shot by Dani Carvajal in the 63rd minute hit the back of Oblak.
Real dominated the game against a totally underwhelming Atletico side, which failed to worry former goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois throughout the encounter.
A major win for Los Blancos who seem to be turning the tide following a miserable start to the season.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90+3 We can confirm that the second goal was an own-goal by Jan Oblak.
Shame for Dani Carvajal as his thunderous shot may be a goal-of-the-season candidate.
Shame for Jan Oblak as well…
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90 Referee gives four minutes of extra time.
Real Madrid close to ending Atletico Madrid’s undefeated run in the league this season
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
90 WHAT A CHANCE!
Real Madrid almost make it three with Lucas Vazquez.
Federico Valverde steals the ball from Atletico Madrid’s defence and passes it to Karim Benzema.
Benzema finds Lucas whose powerful shot is saved by Jan Oblak.
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
87 SUBSTITUTION
Federico Valverde returns for Real Madrid as he takes Luka Modric’s place.
Modric was instrumental, as always, when it comes to this big win that could see Real turning the tide on their league campaign
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
83 WHAT A CHANCE!
Atletico Madrid are not giving up as we approach full-time in Madrid.
Thomas Lemar, Atletico’s best player so far, produces a beautiful shot outside of the box.
However, Lemar’s shot is too high and doesn’t trouble Thibaut Courtois.
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
83 We’re close to full-time and it seems like Atletico Madrid are going to suffer their first La Liga loss of the season.
Real Madrid have been dominant throughout the Madrid derby with high pressing and exceptional passing.
But the match is not over yet…
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
80 WHAT A CHANCE!
Renan Lodi produces a beautiful cross from the left flank for Saul Niguez.
Saul gets the header right in front of Thibaut Courtois, who catches the ball just in time.
That was Atletico’s best opportunity of the match
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
78 SUBSTITUTION
Rodrygo comes in for Vinicius Junior whereas Dani Carvajal makes way for Marco Asencio.
Those were Zinedine Zidane’s first substitutions
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
75 Another shot by Atletico Madrid, the second of the night.
Saul Niguez produces a powerful strike outside of the box but doesn’t worry Thibaut Courtois.
Can Atletico produce a late comeback…?
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
73 SUBSTITUTION
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone makes his final substitution.
Geoffrey Kondogbia replaces Luis Suarez, who was also absent throughout the Madrid derby
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
71 If the goal stands for Dani Carvajal then that will be the right-back’s first goal of the season.
It would be a shame if it went down as an own-goal by Jan Oblak as Carvajal scored an absolute stunner.
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
65 YELLOW CARD
And this is another yellow card for Atletico Madrid.
Mario Hermoso is the fourth player to get booked following a rough challenge.
It seems like a red card in the next few minutes is not totally out of the question…
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
63 Dani Carvajal doubles Real Madrid’s lead with a sensational strike outside of the box.
Carvajal chests the ball down and his powerful shot hits Jan Oblak’s post on the left before getting a deflection on the Slovenian goalkeeper’s back.
It seems like this is an own-goal by Oblak, we will keep you updated about it
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL
REAL MADRID DOUBLE THEIR LEAD!
REAL MADRID 1-0 ATLETICO MADRID
61 YELLOW CARD
This is unbelievable….
Saul Niguez gets booked as well just a few seconds after coming in for Atletico Madrid.
Saul gets booked for apparently complaining to the referee.
The Spaniard is the third substitution to see yellow after Thomas Lemar and Angle Correa
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
