SAN FRANCISCO, December 13, (THEWILL) – La Liga champions Real Madrid beat the pacesetters of the season so far Atletico Madrid 2-0 in the derby on Saturday at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano to close to within three points of the leaders and cap a brilliant week especially for their coach.
The pressure from a string of unexpected results was building on Zinedine Zidane before his side won at Sevilla last weekend and then progressed in the Champions League by seeing off Borussia Monchengladbach.
Los Blancos therefore headed into the clash with their city rivals in high spirits and quickly established another lead through Casemiro’s header.
The visitors had won their prior seven La Liga matches and were unbeaten this term, but their record against Madrid is rather less impressive and Jan Oblak’s unfortunate second-half own goal ensured a ninth consecutive league meeting with their neighbours without victory.
Diego Simeone’s men were on the back foot from the outset and only a vital fingertip touch from goalie Oblak denied striker Karim Benzema as he cracked a 20-yard drive against the upright.
The deadlock was broken soon enough as impressive midfielder Casemiro rose to head Toni Kroos’ corner inside the near post, unimpeded following a slip from midfielder Hector Herrera who was marking him.
The game slowed down after the opener and Atleti had to wait until the 55th minute for their first effort of note. They should have drawn level as substitute Thomas Lemar ghosted in at the far post after centre back Raphael Varane failed to cut out a low cross, only to stab a tame effort into the side-netting.
Such wastefulness proved costly and they were made to pay eight minutes later when right back Dani Carvajal rifled in a low shot from outside the area and the ball bounced off the post, against a prone Oblak and into the net.
A recovery from Simeone’s charges did not appear likely and Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois saved well from substitute Saul Niguez’s close-range header to allow Madrid to coast home, almost netting a third but Oblak turned winger Lucas Vazquez’s blast over the top.
Madrid are quickly back in action at home to Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, while Atletico have Copa del Rey duty against Cardassar the following day.
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.
