Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid played to a feisty 1-1 draw in the first Madrid derby of the season on Sunday night.
LALIGA
Result: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid
Date: 29 September 2024
Venue: Metropolitano Stadium
Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti made two changes from the win over - in midweek, as Luka Modric replaced the injured Kylian Mbappe while Dani Carvajal returned to right-back in place of Lucas Vazquez.The defending champions, however, came into the encounter winless in their last three Madrid derbies in the Spanish top-flight, which included a 3-1 loss in this fixture last season.
Like most Madrid derbies, the first half proved to be a cagey affair as the visiting side dominated possession with creating any clear-cut chances against a stubborn Los Rojiblancos defence.
That proved to be the trend for the remainder of the first half, although Atletico would have been the happier of the two sides after the opening 45 minutes after stifling the Los Blancos attack.
After a quiet opening in the second half, the visitors broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute when defender Eder Militao get on the end of Vincius Junior's cross and sent a powerful strike into the back of the net.
The game was suspended by the referee, who activated the anti-violence protocol after the Atletico supporters pelted their former player Thibaut Courtois with objects.
When the game resumed, Atletico made a double change for the final 20 minutes as Conor Gallagher and Reinildo made way for Rodrigo Riquelme and Javi Galan to freshen up the midfield and attack.
With the game heading for a draw, second-half substitute Angel Correa rescued a point for the home side by bundling the home after being played in by Galan's fine through-ball.
The game finish on a sour note for the home side, who were reduced to ten men when for Los Blancos midfielder Marcos Llorente was shown a straight red card late challenge on Fran Garcia.
