Real Madrid squandered the chance to move four points clear at the top of LaLiga after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to city rivals Atletico.
2023/2024 La Liga
1-1
Match Report
Brahim Diaz’s early goal looked set to ensure Real took full advantage of Girona’s 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad on Saturday by extending their lead at the top of the table.
However, Marcos Llorente punished the home side for a lapse in concentration in the third minute of added time when he headed beyond Andriy Lunin as a static defence looked on.
🦸♂ 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗢𝗦 𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘 pic.twitter.com/hJxIawG3Xe
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) February 4, 2024
The result left Real two points clear of Girona, who travel to the Bernabeu for a crunch top-of-the-table clash next weekend.
Real’s preparations for the third Madrid derby in less than a month suffered a major blow when Vinicius Junior picked up an injury in the warm up, but it was his replacement Diaz who opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a goal which owed a lot to two fortunate deflections.
The first saw Diaz’s attempted pass to Jude Bellingham rebound to an unmarked Lucas Vazquez, who also tried to cut the ball back to the England midfielder only for Koke to intercept. However, that only succeeded in diverting the ball straight to Diaz and he had the time and space to take two touches before lofting beyond Jan Oblak and into the net.
The visitors almost responded three minutes later, Axel Witsel’s header forcing a good save from Lunin and Stefan Savic glancing narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
It was a warning Real failed to heed and Atletico were somewhat unfortunate not to equalise just two minutes into the second half when Savic glanced Antoine Griezmann’s corner beyond a stationary Lunin.
The visitors’ celebrations were cut short however, with Saul Niguez adjudged to be impeding Lunin as he stood in an offside position, even though there appeared no chance the goalkeeper could have kept the ball out of his net.
That sparked Real into life and Toni Kroos fired a well-struck volley straight at Oblak from 25 yards before Rodrygo drew a more difficult save from the visiting goalkeeper, while Diaz curled a left-footed shot wide after playing the ball through the legs of Mario Hermoso.
But just when Carlo Ancelotti’s side appeared to have secured all three points, a hopeful ball into the box from Savic was flicked on by Memphis Depay and Llorente reacted quickest to direct a header into the top corner.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Camavinga fires his shot into the sky
8' What a save from Lunin!
20' Brahim Diaz scores！ Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico
30' Match Event for Real Madrid vs Atletico
32' CLOSE! Díaz’s shot wide out
35' Match Event for Real Madrid vs Atletico
36' CHANCE! Morata header over the bar
37' Yellow Card! Saul booked
48' After the VAR review, the referee disallows the goal for an offside
53' CLOSE! Kroos’s shot saved by Goalkeeper!
54' Beautiful Skills By Vazquez
60' Bellingham goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
66' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Atletico
70' CLOSE! Rodrygo misses a golden chance!
78' Griezmann’s powerful strike stopped by goalkeeper
80' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Atletico
93' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico (Marcos Llorente)
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Kroos, Nacho, Carvajal, Vazquez, F Mendy, Valverde, Brahim, Andriy Lunin, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham
Subs: Modric, Joselu, Kepa, Ceballos, Fran García, Vinicius, Arda Güler, Diego Piñeiro
Atletico XI: Witsel, Oblak, Savic, Griezmann, Morata, Saul , Koke, De Paul, Hermoso, Llorente, Riquelme
Subs: Gabriel, Depay, Correa, Reinildo Mandava, Nahuel Molina, Horaţiu Moldovan, Samuel Lino, Pablo Barrios, Antonio Gomis, Arthur Vermeeren