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The two-hour feast, unusual in a normally cautious derby, ended in a confusing affair between exhausted boys. Carvajal, impressive, incombustible, hit a good cross that Joselu finished poorly and Savic accidentally sent into the net. The cheers summed up how much Real Madrid and Atlético were pushing each other: crippled players limping towards the embrace. Los Blancos made it to the Super Cup final on Sunday after a series of mutual defeats saw them go to extra time against a brave rival.
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Arrizabalaga, Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy (Camavinga, Min. 81), Modric (Kroos, Min. 66), Aurelien Tchouameni (Brahim Diaz, Min. 81), Federico Valverde (Arda Guler, Min. 112), Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior (Joselu, min. 105) and Rodrygo (Dani Ceballos, min. 105)
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Oblak, Savic, Giménez, Mario Hermoso, Samuel Lino (Rodrigo Riquelme, Min. 66), Koke (Javi Galán, Min. 104), Saúl (Nahuel Molina, Min. 66), De Paul (Witsel, Min. 90), Marcos Llorente (Azpilicueta, min. 105), Griezmann and Morata (Correa, min. 90)
Goals 0-1 min 6: Nice Mario. 1-1 min. 20: Rüdiger. 2-1 min 29: Ferland Mendy. 2-2 min. 36: Griezmann. 2-3 min. 78: Rüdiger (S.). 3-3 min 84: Dani Carvajal. 4-3 mins 115: Joselu. 5-3 mins 122: Brahim Diaz.
referee Javier Alberola Rojas
Brahim Diaz yellow cards (min. 123)
While the coming merry-go-round of derbies could be viewed with a certain amount of boredom, the attack on Riyadh had the opposite effect. In a shoot that was very old and also unexpected, everything seemed small. Football remains a fascinating mystery. What seems to have been learned is blown up in six minutes.
Madrid lost their only game of the season at the Metropolitano in September, on a night when Atlético scored three headed goals. The stumble was something of a revelation for Ancelotti, almost a turning point. But when I entered the stadium where Cristiano Ronaldo's team is playing, that wisdom evaporated, that remnant of a bad day when everything seemed to have changed. But not. Or not so much. Hermoso headed a corner as Rodrygo looked on and outran the Cholo team in the same way they had downed their neighbors more than three months ago.
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The reaction seemed aimed at causing confusion more than the game. The draw was a very painful event in Simeone's career, in another derby also outside Spain, in Lisbon. Modric took a corner from the right attacking side, Rüdiger caught it in the middle of the penalty area, turned his head and placed the ball near the other post, with Oblak stretching without reaching it. Like Ramos in the 2014 Champions League final and the shot that Courtois missed. Hit one bad memory after hit another worse one.
So the game was unleashed, far from the expectations of a tired and cautious duel. Madrid tried to get a little off balance, to push forward, and Atlético's heartbeat didn't quicken, nor did the urgency drive them. He played and played with De Paul, Koke and Saúl. And he ran away. But he had no entertainment. He immediately pursued Kepa, very uncertain, and this time started in front of Lunin, in this balance that Ancelotti had not yet solved. Simeone's team was a ruthless battalion that failed to bind Real.
He only deactivated it when he tamed the ball and Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde and especially Bellingham began to connect. From Hermoso's goal, the Englishman showed his open face, a friend to everyone everywhere, always ready for a wall, a run, a filtered pass or a steal. He did what was expected of him and Modric. The Croatian did not offer his own offer or what Kroos usually does, this time on the bench after not traveling to Aranda due to some complaints.
In the period in which Madrid flowed, the second came: an opening from Bellingham on the right, an assist with a pipe into the penalty area from Carvajal and a caress with the outside kick from Mendy into the net. From side to side. Madrid was growing, Atlético was losing steam, and in that critical moment, Griezmann seemed to turn it into a memorable moment. He maneuvered to let Real's half past and alone he shot with his right foot from outside the penalty area, surpassing Luis Aragonés as the top goalscorer in Atlético de Madrid's history. He also got it back on track. During the torturous phases of the night, he always emerged and even went to his own field to get some air. He and Morata, who were very argumentative, helped defuse the traffic jams. Although the boss was De Paul, who continues to grow and acted as a contact and support.
As the excitement died down, Madrid remained in control and caused fear with a free-kick from Vinicius, which Carvajal finished from point-blank range past Oblak. However, Atlético not only had the pulse, but also retained the memory of this weakness of the Whites. Another cross from the side ended for Kepa, who was too timid to take the free throw against Morata, who collided with him. In the hustle and bustle, the forgotten ball ends up inside.
Again, blow after blow. Vinicius escaped Giménez and hit Oblak. Bellingham completed the rebound twice against both opponents. And with the rebound, Carvajal once again equalized a game that no one wanted to end, partly because Brahim was then involved with his street football, dribbling, cycling and excessive cross shots. And it didn't end. These games never end. Sixth consecutive extra time in a derby, with another possibility next week in the Cup at the Metropolitano.
After extra time, extra time was a mix of enthusiasm from freshmen (Riquelme, Correa, Camavinga) and reserves from melted boys (Koke, Carvajal). With a Madrid still thrown, with long monologues and an increasingly cursed Atlético. Even Valverde was melting, even though there were ten minutes left. But Real insisted. Until the 4-3 goal and Brahim's last goal, which won the victory over Oblak, who had taken the shot. A celebration. And there are still two derbies left in 25 days.
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