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In the final minutes of stoppage time, the Metropolitan killed a dying game by drowning it in the fiery delirium of its emotional cauldron. Atlético had demolished its neighbor and in the stands the time between the Oles and the footballers accelerated with a low-intensity brawl following a foul by Bellingham on Correa. Simeone’s team remained in control until the end of a game in which Ancelotti beat Kroos and Modric together for the first time this season and lost for the first time after the opening six wins between the league and the Champions League. Atlético controlled the tempo and won with headers.
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Oblak, Savic, Giménez (Correa, Min. 85), Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina (Azpilicueta, Min. 65), Samuel Lino (Javi Galán, Min. 86), Koke (Witsel, Min. 45), Saúl, Marcos Llorente , Griezmann and Morata (Depay, Min. 82)
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Arrizabalaga, Alaba, Rüdiger, Lucas Vázquez (Nacho, Min. 56), Fran Garcia (Ferland Mendy, Min. 56), Camavinga (Aurelien Tchouameni, Min. 56), Kroos (Brahim Diaz, Min. 70), Federico Valverde, Modric (Joselu, Min. 45), Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo
Goals 1-0 min 3: Morata. 2:0 minutes. 18: Griezmann. 2-1 min. 35: Kroos. 3-1 min 46: Morata.
referee Javier Alberola Rojas
Yellow cards Modric (min. 44), Giménez (min. 46), Ferland Mendy (min. 66) and Jude Bellingham (min. 94)
There was even almost half an hour when the prospects pointed to an even greater collapse for Madrid, a touch similar to the classic one at the Bernabéu when it was 0-4 with Modric as a false nine. That night, Ancelotti admitted he was wrong. Although the setback came when the league was won and now there are doubts in the middle of putting together a new team. At the Metropolitano he surprised again with the Croatian’s participation. After his dissatisfaction on the bench at the start of the season, the coach let him play alongside Kroos in the derby, the most notable game of the season so far. To accommodate them, he changed the plan that had taken shape in the weeks without Vinicius: Modric took Bellingham’s place at the top of the midfield diamond, and the Englishman moved a little further, acting as Joselu at the top with Rodrygo.
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Atlético, staying true to their recent duties with three central defenders and two full-backs, took advantage of the quick exit down the wings and crossed Real’s weak midfield. Simeone has found in Lino the replacement for the ability to cause havoc in attack that he lost with Carrasco’s late departure. That’s where Madrid’s dismantling began, as they again conceded a goal right from the start.
Lino’s forward presence was undetectable to them. The Brazilian was let down, he hit a cross, Morata beat Alaba and gave the Rojiblancos the lead after barely three minutes. In Madrid everything was bright, as if viewed from a distance. And Simeone ordered to go even higher for a few minutes to try to prolong the confusion. It was just one bite. Atlético lived in a calm grouping at the back, as they immediately reached the top, crossing a central area that lost a lot of energy with the two veterans.
The second was very similar to the first. Lino got involved again on the right side, where he opened up space for Saúl’s advance. Griezmann headed his cross from a height of 1.76 meters without either Fran García or Camavinga getting close. Madrid seemed to be drifting, although they held the ball, which they moved from side to side, on the border of just 15 meters in which Atlético was squeezed in to consider going out and worrying Kepa again. Griezmann covered the entire route, committed in defense and bright in attack.
A ball fell in front of him to Kroos, who scored after a cutback. A brief period of Madrid’s onslaught followed, but Atlético managed to reach the break without any further scratches.
Then Ancelotti’s correction began to take shape, which will leave some wounds. Joselu, Tchouameni and Mendy stayed to warm up, which was unusual for the Italian. When they returned from the dressing room, Modric was sitting on the bench, looking lost. Joselu entered the field and Bellingham returned to the top of the diamond.
Lino didn’t care about anything. He immediately struck again from the right, once again giving the ball to Saúl, and again Morata scored with a header past a desperate Alaba.
The control of the scene by Simeone’s team was overwhelming, pure Argentine manual: do the right thing, very well, and avoid having too much done to you. A little further down the wing, Ancelotti intervened again with a triple strike: he removed Fran García, Lucas Vázquez and Camavinga and brought Mendy, Nacho and Tchouameni into play. The turns increased but they hardly troubled Oblak, with a series of long-range shots and hanging balls in search of Joselu’s height in the penalty area. Nothing. Pure desperation. And a lot of doubts in Ancelotti’s corner.
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