A goal from Kylian Mbappe in his first Madrid derby salvaged a 1-1 draw for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, allowing them to maintain a narrow lead in the Spanish league standings, Al Jazeera reports.
Atletico took the lead in the 35th minute through a Julian Alvarez penalty, awarded after a VAR review determined Aurelien Tchouameni had fouled Samuel Lino. Mbappe equalized for the hosts in the 50th minute, capitalizing on a blocked shot from Jude Bellingham to slot the ball past Jan Oblak.
Despite intense pressure from Real Madrid in the second half, Atletico’s defense, known as one of the stingiest in Europe, held firm. Bellingham hit the crossbar with a header, while Oblak produced crucial saves to deny Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior, and Mbappe, ensuring a share of the spoils for Atletico.
Atletico, who invested heavily in new players last summer, including Alvarez, were looking to add to their league titles won in 2021 and 2014 under the guidance of coach Diego Simeone. They entered the match in excellent form, boasting 19 wins in their previous 21 games across all competitions. Their defensive prowess was evident, having conceded only 15 goals in 23 league matches prior to the derby.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the contrasting halves of the match.
“We controlled the second half well. We scored and had chances. We played a very good second half. First half was different. We were very slow and not aggressive enough.”
Ancelotti was forced to field a makeshift defense due to a series of injuries, with Lucas Vázquez, midfielder Tchouameni, youth player Raul Asencio, and Fran García forming the backline. Tchouameni’s foul on Lino, which required VAR intervention, led to Alvarez’s successful penalty conversion, sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way.
Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann showcased his playmaking abilities with pinpoint passes, creating opportunities for Alvarez and Lino, though their chances were ultimately squandered due to poor touches.
Rodrygo sparked Real Madrid’s comeback shortly after halftime, dribbling past Javi Galan and Lino before setting up Bellingham in the box. Bellingham’s initial shot was blocked, falling to Mbappe, who made no mistake in firing home his first goal against Atletico Madrid, having missed the previous derby due to injury.
Real Madrid continued to press for a winner, with Vinícius Júnior setting up Bellingham for a header that struck the crossbar.
Atletico coach Simeone made defensive changes in the 63rd minute, bringing on Reinildo and Nahuel Molina, but Oblak remained crucial in preserving the draw with three vital saves.
