In a thrilling showdown at Rojiblancos’ Metropolitan Stadium, both teams engaged in a captivating battle, marking the second Madrid derby in less than a month.
Los Blancos’ Comeback Saga
Los Blancos staged an impressive comeback against Atletico, trailing them twice in the game. Jan Oblak’s goal-saving effort against Samuel Lino’s opener and a late goal by Joselu, following Alvaro Morata’s lead for the host team, showcased the team’s resilience.
Griezmann’s Decisive Move in Extra Time
In extra time, Griezmann made a pivotal move on the right, breaking the deadlock with a strike alongside Recelme. With confidence, he concluded the game, avenging Atletico’s loss in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Madrid last week.
Real Madrid Triumphs Over Diego Simeone’s Team
Real Madrid secured a 5-3 victory against Diego Simeone’s team, defeating arch-rivals Barcelona and clinching the trophy.
Argentina’s Coach Sees New Opportunities
Argentina’s coach expressed that this match provides a new opportunity for his team. The game proved to be a testament that it would remain intense from start to finish, even without both sides opting for a complete abandonment in Saudi Arabia.
Strategic Moves Before Atletico’s Lead
Before Atletico took the lead, Real Madrid delivered a threatening crossbar kick against Judd Bellingham.
Antonio Rudiger, involved in an altercation with Atletico in Riyadh, attempted a cross for security. However, in the end, it went Linos’ way, reaching the edge.
Equalizer Before the Break
Madrid leveled the score just before the break when Luka Modric’s free-kick pushed Oblak out of his goal.
Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid celebrated the draw more passionately than ever, leaving no love lost between Brazilian and Atletico supporters.
Thrilling Second Half Begins
In the opening of the second half, home fans rejoiced as Madrid’s goalkeeper Andriy Lunin failed to gather the ball, leading to Morata sending Atletico back.
Morata’s 18th goal in the campaign proved effective in Madrid’s relentless campaign across all competitions.
Real Madrid attacked Woodwork for the second time through Rodrigo and Lunin, and Joselu prevented Morata from equalizing with a point-blank range save ten minutes before the draw.
Vinicius’ Clever Move After Bellingham’s Slip
After a slip by Vinicius in Bellingham, the English international cleverly maneuvered the ball past the person, signaling towards home and sending the match into additional time.
Griezmann, with a splendid solo run from the right, made a tense first additional period end, escaping Vinicius and clinically finishing off Lunin in the top corner to advance Atletico.
Late Drama in the 111th Minute
In the 111th minute, a positioned Dani Sebalos equalized for Madrid, but it was disallowed for offside in the build-up by Bellingham. Recelme sealed the match with a home penalty.
For Atletico, the victory holds significant importance. La Liga was slowing down, and recovering from Madrid’s previous loss, they celebrated emphatically with their fans.
Barcelona’s Triumph in the Third Tier
Before this, Barcelona reached the final eight with a 3-1 victory over Unionistas de Salamanca in the third tier.