Real Madrid preserves their perfect start to the campaign, notching their sixth win in six matches with a 2-1 victory over rivals Atletico Madrid at the Civitas Metropolitano.
Goals from Rodrygo and Valverde in the first half were enough to see off Simeone’s side, who largely failed to trouble Courtois in the Merengue goal.
A feisty and stop-start second half was not conducive to fashioning goal-scoring opportunities.
Still, Atletico Madrid managed to cut the deficit with a late Hermoso goal from a corner-kick, with the defender unknowingly shouldering the ball into the empty goal.
However, the comeback was not completed, with the match ending in unsavoury scenes for the hosts.
With Hermoso picking up two yellow cards in two minutes at the end of regulation time.
The win takes Ancelotti’s side back to the top of the table.
While Simeone’s team slumps to seventh after their second domestic defeat.
Starting lineup:
ATLETICO MADRID XI (3-5-2): Jan Oblak;
Reinildo, Axel Witsel, Felipe;
Yannick Carrasco, Koke, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Rodrigo De Paul, Marcos Llorente;
Joao Felix, Antoine Griezmann.
REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois;
Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy;
Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, Toni Kroos;
Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.
Goals:
REAL MADRID TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0! Rodrygo cuts in from the left and plays a pass to Tchouameni, who brilliantly lifts the ball over the top of the defence to return it to the Brazil international. A leaping Felipe can’t get on the end of it, which allows Rodrygo to steal in and tuck his finish past Oblak from close range!
THE VISITORS DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! 2-0! Vinicius breaks into the penalty area with unmistakable speed, putting himself ahead of Witsel and Felipe to prod a shot towards goal. Oblak makes a great close-range reaction save, which pushes the ball onto the far post, but Valverde is there to take care of the rebound and finish the move!
HERMOSO CUTS THE DEFICIT! 2-1! Atletico Madrid punishes their opponents’ mistakes at the back as Griezmann’s corner-kick is missed by Courtois, allowing the substitute defender to shoulder the ball into the back of the net!
So, what’s next?
Atletico Madrid will look to get back to winning ways on October 1 when they travel to face Sevilla.
Real Madrid’s first match after the international break is at home against Osasuna.
