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The equalizer of the second half of the Royal striker Kylian Mbappe cancels Julian Alvarez’s penalty for Atlético in Madrid Derby.
Kylian Mbappe scored in his first derby against Atlético de Madrid while Real Madrid defended himself for a 1-1 draw and maintained his thin leadership in the Spanish League.
Julian Álvarez put Atlético from the penalty point in the 35th minute at Santiago Bernabéu stadium on Sunday. The kick was granted after the referee was called to review a challenge by Aurelien Tchouameni in Samuel Lino.
Mbappe matched in the 50th minute for the hosts, that they have maintained a point ahead of Atlético del second in the classification, after getting hooked on a blocked effort by Jude Bellingham to locate home.
Bellingham hit the crossbar with a header while Madrid was looking for a second goal, while Atlético Jan Olbak goalkeeper made saveations to deny Rodrygo, Vinícius Junior and Mbappe to divide the points in the Spanish capital.
“We knew how to endure and we had our possibilities,” said Álvarez. “We are in the fight and we will remain directly until the end.”
Atlético, who spent a big summer to acquire Álvarez and other reinforcements, is trying to add to the titles of the League in 2021 and 2014 under coach Diego Simeone.
They arrived in good shape, having won 19 of their previous 21 games in all competitions, and showed why they have the best defense in the five best leagues in Europe with 15 goals granted in 23 games.
On Saturday, despite losing the unconditional defensive Robin Le Normand by suspension, Simeone’s side was once again solid in the back, frustrating Real’s star attack that could not create a single shot in the target in the first half .
The real coach Carlo Ancelotti quickly accepted that it was a game of two halves: “We controlled the second half. We wrote down and had opportunities. We play a very good second half. The first half was different. We were very slow and not aggressive enough.
“The penalty affected the team. After the penalty, and before, we were playing very slowly. We do not take advantage of the field. In the second half, we opened the field and made it wider, and took advantage of that. We create many problems in the second half, ”he said.
A series of injuries left the Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, trusting in an impromptu background by Lucas Vázquez, the regular midfielder Tchouameni, the youth player Raúl Asencio and Fran García.
It was the reckless stretch of his tchouameni boot that ended up stumbling with linen, but still required that VAR intervened to grant the kick.
The former Manchester City striker, Álvarez, gently stroked his penalty by the middle when Thibaut Courtois divered to his left.
Antoine Griezmann showed his great value for Atlético again with a precision that goes under coercion. The French midfielder was twice perfectly heavy balls that left Álvarez and Lino in a good position to get out of the shooting inside the area, but the clumsy touches for both ruined the opportunities.
Rodrygo caused the return of Madrid just after part time when he dripped with Javi Galan and linen on the right side and slid a ball to Bellingham in the heart of the box.
Bellingham’s worn shot hit a defender and fell against Mbappe, who had lost the first derby of Atlético of the season, a 1-1 draw in September, due to an injury, to impose his first goal against the rivals between cities of real
Madrid went ahead looking for a second goal with Atlético Ritted. Vinicius dripped on the left side and took out the ball for Bellingham, who broke a header from the carpentry.
Simeone changed his two fullbacks with Reinildo and Nahuel Molina in 63, but Oblak still had to go to Atlético rescue three times.
“In the first half, we played very well,” Simeone said. “In the second half, they scored immediately, then hit the bar. It was very intense.
“After 20 minutes in the second half, we also had our opportunities … Julian (Álvarez) fell on one, (Marcos) Llorente a couple of times. In the end, it was a draw, (but) both teams thought they could win the game. “
Barcelona, thirdly, are now five points in Madrid before their trip to Seville on Sunday.
