Real Madrid recently impressed with a thrashing of Jürgen Klopp's FC Liverpool in the Champions League. But in everyday league life, the Spanish champions leave important points behind. The beneficiary is FC Barcelona.
Four days after the 5-2 gala in the Champions League at Liverpool FC, Spain's record champions Real Madrid had to be satisfied with a 1-1 (0-0) win against Atletico in the madrileno derbi. José María Giménez (78') scored the opening goal for the visitors, Álvaro (85') managed to equalize.
With 52 points, the royals reduced the gap to leaders FC Barcelona to seven points for at least one day, but on Sunday Barça can extend the lead at UD Almeria (6.30 p.m. in the live ticker on ntv.de). Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also told DAZN that "this draw is obviously better than a defeat, but the point doesn't mean much to us." Atlético is fourth in La Liga with 42 points.
From the 64th Atlético had to play outnumbered after Ángel Correa received a red card for assaulting national player Antonio Rüdiger. The dismissal, as Courtois saw it, was not much help for the reigning champions, who had impressed in the Champions League during the week: "After Correa's dismissal, we forgot to play a bit," said the world goalkeeper. "We put too much emphasis on the ball up front and Atlético are a strong team there."
In addition to Rüdiger, Real's starting line-up also included Rio World Champion Toni Kroos, who was substituted in the 63rd minute. Ex-Munich David Alaba was absent due to a muscle injury. It was the third duel between the two arch-rivals from Madrid this season. Real had won the first leg 2-1, and in the quarter-finals of the cup (3-1 aet) the royals had kept the better end for themselves.
