Atlético Secures Last-Second Draw Against Real Madrid in Thrilling Derby

Real Madrid appeared to have secured victory in the Madrid derby, but in dramatic fashion, they dropped two points in added time (90+5) at a packed Metropolitano stadium with 70,112 fans. The 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid denied Real the chance to capitalize on the 8th matchday of La Liga and close the gap with league leaders Barcelona, who had lost 2-4 to Osasuna the day before.

Both Atlético and Real Madrid remain unbeaten in La Liga following the draw. Real, still in second place, moved within three points of first-place Barcelona. However, this tense derby, just three days before Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Villeneuve-d’Ascq, didn’t offer many memorable moments. The match was marked by caution as both teams neutralized each other. Atlético coach Diego Simeone eventually shifted tactics in the second half, bringing on Koke (46’), Lino (55’), Correa (70’), Riquelme (75’), and Galán (76’) to mount an offensive push.

Real Madrid’s Solid Defense

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid side extended their unbeaten La Liga streak to 40 games—exactly one year and one week since their last defeat, which happened at the same stadium against Atlético on September 24, 2023. For much of the match, it seemed like Real would come out on top this time. Their 4-4-2 formation effectively isolated Antoine Griezmann, leaving Atlético with few opportunities, except for a dangerous shot by Álvarez, which required a brilliant left-footed save from Courtois in the 9th minute.

Without the injured Kylian Mbappé, Ancelotti’s focus was on discipline and organization. The Italian coach’s tactics paid off with Real’s defensive efforts, particularly from Bellingham, who played an uncharacteristic role on the left but did so without complaint. Offensively, Real had few chances, with Valverde testing Oblak from long range (17’) and Bellingham forcing a less threatening save (36’). The first half was otherwise uneventful, lacking attacking intensity from both sides.

Atlético’s Resilient Fightback

In the second half, under the watchful eyes of France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan—who was scouting Griezmann and the excellent Aurélien Tchouaméni—Real Madrid’s attacking duo, Vinicius and Rodrygo, remained relatively quiet. Vinicius, however, came to life with two bursts of acceleration. On the first, he outpaced De Paul and delivered a sharp cross. Militao latched onto the deflected ball at the far post, controlling it and smashing a right-footed shot into the net to give Real the lead (0-1, 64’), with Oblak wrong-footed by a Llorente deflection.

Ancelotti made his first substitutions late in the game, bringing on Vázquez for Modric (84’) and Endrick for Vinicius (85’), switching to a five-man defense to solidify their lead. However, Atlético began to push forward, gaining momentum. Lino’s shot in the 82nd minute was brilliantly saved by Courtois, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Atlético’s persistence paid off in stoppage time as Correa first forced a save from Courtois (90+3), then scored the equalizer by dribbling past him (1-1, 90+5). Initially ruled offside, the goal was eventually awarded after a VAR review. Remarkably, six of Atlético’s 14 goals this season have come in the 90th minute or later.

Ten-Minute Match Interruption

Shortly after Real Madrid took the lead, the match was halted for ten minutes when Atlético fans threw objects at Thibaut Courtois, their former goalkeeper. Courtois delayed a goal kick as lighters and food rained down on him. Despite attempts by Atlético captain Koke and coach Diego Simeone to calm the crowd, the disruptions continued. After retrieving one of the projectiles to show the officials, the referee temporarily suspended the match for safety. The game resumed after a ten-minute pause, giving fans time to cool down.

In the end, the fiery derby ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving both teams to reflect on missed opportunities in a match filled with tension but few clear chances.