Actual Madrid have gained a slight benefit over metropolis rivals Atletico Madrid, following a 2-1 win on the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday within the first leg of the Champions League spherical of 16.
The viewers of the sport have been handled to a few improbable objectives, the primary being the work of Rodrygo Goes within the fourth minute, handing Actual an early lead. Atletico struck again via Julian Alvarez within the thirty second, however the closing rating was set by Brahim Diaz within the fifty fifth.
Groups
Carlo Ancelotti within the residence dugout was with out 5 gamers for this large conflict: defenders Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal (each knee), and Jesus Vallejo (thigh), and midfielders Dani Ceballos (leg) and Jude Bellingham (yellow-card suspension).
Thibaut Courtois was in aim. Fede Valverde was touch-and-go earlier than the sport, however the Uruguayan recovered in time to step in on the proper defensive flank, whereas Ferland Mendy coated the left, and the pair of Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asencio took up their locations within the coronary heart of defence. Aurelien Tchouameni paired up with Eduardo Camavinga in the course of the park, with Brahim Diaz changing Bellingham in a extra superior position. Rodrygo Goes, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior fashioned Actual’s regular, very fluid, attacking line.
In the meantime, Atleti boss Diego Simeone wasn’t capable of name upon veteran midfielder Koke (leg), in addition to defender Cesar Azpilicueta (leg).
The Rojiblancos have been organized in a historically compact 4-4-2 form, with Javi Galan, Clement Lenglet, Jose Maria Gimenez and former Actual man Marcos Llorente forming the defensive wall in entrance of goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Pablo Barrios joined Rodrigo De Paul in the course of the park, flanked by Samuel Lino and Giuliano Simeone. In assault, Antoine Griezmann was joined by Julian Alvarez.
Sport recap
The hosts began brightly, taking the lead via Rodrygo after an outstanding Valverde move. The Brazilian managed it in stride, burst into the field previous two defenders, and curled an excellent left-footed strike into the far nook.
Regardless of Actual’s early dominance, Atletico managed to disrupt their rhythm by slowing the sport’s tempo and commenced creating probabilities via Lino and Giuliano Simeone, who constantly threatened down the flanks.
Atletico discovered their equalizer when Alvarez pressured his well past Eduardo Camavinga on the left byline, minimize inside and curled a shot previous Thibaut Courtois, placing the far submit on its means in. The shot was technically good, hit from a good angle with such accuracy that Courtois couldn’t get anyplace close to its path.
The guests then managed possession, confidently passing the ball round amid loud jeers from the packed Bernabeu crowd, who grew pissed off with their workforce’s struggles.
Atleti began the second half nicely, with De Paul lacking a key alternative to place them forward within the 53rd minute – a expensive miss, as two minutes later, Brahim produced a second of brilliance to revive Actual’s lead.
Surrounded by three defenders, the Moroccan created house with fast footwork, leaving Gimenez on the bottom earlier than calmly slotting the ball into the far nook, with Oblak left helpless.
Diego Simeone was seemingly content material with the slim deficit, changing Antoine Griezmann with center-back Robin Le Normand and switching to a five-man protection to make sure Actual’s lead remained manageable forward of subsequent week’s extremely anticipated second leg. He did, nonetheless, ship forwards Alexander Sorloth and Angel Correa into the fray quickly after, however with no tangible end result.
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Actual boss Ancelotti was completely conscious that his workforce struggled towards the Rojiblancos, however he warned that it could be even more durable on the Wanda Metropolitano subsequent week.
“If it was troublesome at present, think about how troublesome will probably be on Wednesday,” he informed the press after the sport.
“However now we have a small benefit, and we’ll attempt to undergo. Will probably be troublesome, not a lot will change.”
As for Simeone, he was proud of the efficiency his gamers had put in, if not fairly with the end result of the match.
“It isn’t an excellent end result. We have been trying to attract or win,” he mentioned.
“I really feel the workforce competed nicely. I believe we might have finished extra with the 2 objectives we conceded. The workforce is competing. From Sunday, we’ll begin to consider the return leg, which will likely be robust, however we play at our stadium with our followers.
“Our followers push us, they offer us vitality, we’ll want our followers on Wednesday.”
Either side, after all, have home duties to deal with earlier than the second leg, with Actual internet hosting Rayo Vallecano and Atletico touring to face Getafe on Sunday.
