February 25, (THEWILL) – A highly anticipated Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening, without much of the fireworks expected.
After a slow first half, Atletico took the lead through Jose Gimenez, after Angel Correa’s red card. However, Real’s 18-year-old substitute, Alvaro Rodriguez, equalised in the 85th minute to rescue a point for his side.
The game started slowly compared to Real’s previous UEFA Champions League tie against Liverpool. Atletico was mainly responsible for the subdued tempo, reluctant to press their rivals and happy to sit back.
Real picked up the pace in the second half, but Atletico’s defence held strong until Correa’s red card. Despite going down to 10 men, Atletico continued to pose a threat and took the lead through Gimenez’s header in the 78th minute. However, their lead only lasted for eight minutes as Real’s young substitute, Rodriguez, scored his first senior goal to level the scores.
The result leaves Real two points behind league leaders Atletico, who will next face Sevilla in La Liga, while Real will host Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
