Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Rodriguez denies 10-man Colchoneros
Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Rodriguez denies 10-man Colchoneros as El Derbi of La Liga MD 23 ended in a thrilling draw.
Rodriguez’s late equalizer gives Real Madrid one point against Atletico Madrid, in the heated Madrid derby that saw Atletico Angel Correa got an controversial red card.
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Game highlights
The capital club’s gem and teenage forward Alvaro Rodriguez came off the bench to rescue Real Madrid in a dramatic 1-1 derby draw with 10-man Atletico Madrid, heading a late equaliser to cancel out Jose Gimenez’s goal.
Los Colchoneros was one man down as half-time half-time substitute Angel Correa controversially seeing red for a push on Antonio Rudiger.
However, the away team fully used the set-piece as a lethal weapon when when Gimenez headed them into the lead with 12 minutes left.
As Atleti was looking set for a famous win at Bernabeu, without man marking,18-year-old Alvaro rose to nod Luka Modric’s corner beyond Jan Oblak with five minutes remaining.
He scored his first senior goal for Los Blancos and did it dramatically as Bernabeu crowds screamed for cheers.
The home team created several chances, inlcuding Marco Asensio’s finish and Karim Benzema’s two attempt that were sent wild over the crossbar.
Thibaut Courtois was put on alarm with Yannick Carrasco and Antoine Griezmann pressed, but Atleti were but Atleti were largely content to sit deep and frustrate Madrid in a low-key opening half.
Correa saw red as the Argentina star was controversially dismissed for an innocuous push to Rudiger’s chest on the halfway line.
Simeone’s men sat even deeper while waiting for set-piece as their counter-attacks were proved to be non-threatening at all.
And it was two corners that eventually decided the game, when Alvaro heading Modric’s cross into the bottom-right corner to ensure the spoils were shared.
Alvaro, remember the name who takes Higuain record
Another gem in the making? Alvaro became the youngest player to score in a Madrid derby in LaLiga this century, at the age of 18 years and 226 days when he nodded home the equalizer.
The Urugay forward now surpassed former Real Madrid star Gonzalo Higuain who scored against Atleti aged 19 years and 76 days in 2007.
Notable facts from Opta after the El Derbi
- Los Blancos have lost just one of their last 14 games against Atleti in Spanish league (W6 D7), 1-0 away in May 2022.
- Atleti ended a run of four games without scoring away from home against Madrid in LaLiga, ending their worst such run against them in the competition.
- Nacho has played his 200th game in LaLiga, all of them for the capital club (W140 D36 L24).
- Diego Simeone has equalled Luis Aragones as the Atleti coach with the most games in all competitions (612). The Argentinian has also registered the most managerial games in LaLiga for a single team ever (425 – 424 for Miguel Munoz with the Whites).
Up next for two teams
The biggest game of the coming March for Los Blancos, is certainnly the La Liga El Clasico, while Simeone’s man continued their race to top three, starting with the taking of Sevilla at Wanda.
Author Details
TOM is a dedicated soccer writer whose words come alive on the page, mirroring the electric energy of the pitch. With a keen eye for detail and an unbridled love for the sport
