Atletico Hold Real Madrid in Madrid Derby

By Harry Morgan

Atletico Madrid took a point from the Bernabeu on Saturday night as Real Madrid were held to a barren result against Diego Simeoni’s men to register their second straight winless run in the 2018/19 La Liga campaign.

Julen Lopetegui’s men lost 3-0 at Sevilla on match day-six, on a day when rivals Barcelona also lost at Leganes.

Barcelona drew against Atletic Bilbao earlier on in the day, but Real Madrid, with the opportunity to win and overtake the rivals from the summit of the log, also drew in the Madrid Derby as they failed to break down a resolute Atletico Madrid side on a seemingly dull evening.

Atletico Madrid registered their intent very early in the game when Saul Niguez directed a shot at Thibaut Courtois in the 4th minute, but the Los Blancos summer acquisition was not troubled, Antoine Griezmann  found himself in space on the edge of the box, a minute later, and tried to catch the keeper out, but saw his shot go wide.

Atletico Madrid kept probing and Antoine Griezmann got inside the penalty area and sent a powerful shot that nearly went into the net but for the alertness of Courtois. 

Gareth Bale wasted a huge opportunity in the 21st minute when he received a fine cross from Casemiro, but fired a decent shot across the face of goal in his attempt to bury the ball at the far post.

Real Madrid’s right-back Daniel Carvajal received a yellow card for a foul on the half-hour mark, and Diego Costa came close to scoring seven minutes later when he connected with a pass inside the box but directed a strike at Courtois instead of taking time to go for placement. 

Julen Lopetegui changed his cards after the restart by replacing Gareth Bale with Daniel Ceballos in the 46th minute, Juanfran received Atletico Madrid’s second booking for indecency in the 48th minute, two minutes before Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Marco Asensio’s shot at the near post.

Karim Benzema had a penalty appeal denied in the 52nd minute, Thomas Lemar received a booking in the 59th minute for a foul on Toni Kross, three minutes before Sergio Ramos received Real Madrid’s second booking for a foul on Diego Costa as the fans kept urging the hosts forward.

Real Madrid did just that as they attacked the visitors' centre-half, but Marco Asensio, with only Oblak to beat, after being played through by Casemiro in the 66th minute, rather shot in the Slovenian's body, before Diego Simeoni replaced Diego Costa with Thomas Partey in the 69th minute.

Koke picked up the visitor’s fourth yellow card in the 70th minute, Daniel Carvajal came close to scoring in the 78th minute but saw Oblak punch his effort to safety, Luka Modric was replaced with Lucas in the 82nd minute with Nikola Kalinic also replacing Rodrigo for the visitors, before Junior Vinicius was handed his Real Madrid La Liga debut by replacing Benzema in the 88th minute.