Atletico Madrid dealt a decisive blow to Real Madrid’s flawless record, triumphing with a 3-1 victory in their highly anticipated Spanish league derby clash.
Álvaro Morata, demonstrating his prowess, found the back of the net twice, while Antoine Griezmann added another to Atletico’s tally. Toni Kroos salvaged a lone goal for the visiting Real Madrid side. Follow your favourite La Liga team with attractive La Liga odds from Nextbet.
This outcome reshuffled the standings, leaving Barcelona and Girona tied for the top spot with 16 points each from six matches. Barcelona, the reigning champion, showcased resilience in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo, while Girona emerged victorious with a 5-3 scoreline against Mallorca.
Real Madrid, previously basking in five consecutive league victories and a Champions League triumph over Union Berlin, now sits closely behind in third place. They were the sole team boasting a perfect league record until this encounter.
Atletico Madrid, positioned fifth with 10 points, bounced back from a recent 3-0 defeat at the hands of Valencia, which had marred their previously impeccable season record. Diego Simeone’s squad had secured two wins and a draw in previous matches, with a league game against Sevilla postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
Diego Simeone, the Atletico Madrid manager, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We played a great match. The team recovered its spirit and, when that happens, it doesn’t matter the rival.”
The defining moments of the game were all in the air, as all three of Atletico’s goals were scored through headers. Morata demonstrated his aerial prowess with goals in the fourth and 46th minutes, while Griezmann joined the tally in the 18th minute. Madrid’s sole goal arrived in the 35th minute when Kroos displayed exceptional skill, clearing a defender before finding the net from outside the area.
Madrid had a goal disallowed for offside in the 44th minute, compounding their woes on the night.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted, “We didn’t get off to a good start, didn’t defend well. And with 2-0, they took control, defending well and taking advantage of quick transitions. They were better than us in that aspect.”
Adding to Real Madrid’s woes, Vinícius Júnior, set to make a return from injury, was unexpectedly dropped from the squad due to a stomach illness.
In other Sunday clashes, Real Sociedad prevailed with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Getafe, with Japanese forward Takefusa Kubo striking the opening goal just two minutes into the match. Meanwhile, Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano settled for a 1-1 draw with goals scored just a minute apart early in the first half.
Furthermore, 10-man Las Palmas secured their first win, edging out Granada 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal by Kirian Rodríguez, while Real Betis and Cadiz played to a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought contest. Get the latest updates from the La Liga only on Nextbet Sports.
