After a derby that looked tightly contested, Dean Huijsen's red card early in the second half proved costly for Real Madrid, which was dominated over the final 45 minutes.
After the first half of the first 45 minutes of the derby, there were still no really dangerous plays in either area. The play took place mostly in midfield, with a slightly more proactive Real Madrid, it must be admitted. It highlighted doubts from the fullbacks, Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella, in their defending and in receiving passes from their teammates.
Jose Mourinho's team was stalked by Diego Simeone's side, which sought to create danger on the right flank with South Korean Kang-in Lee, who most often looked superior to his marker, Cucurella. Who, we reiterate, looks a little lost in the match, with bad steps in the build-up and a lack of intensity when receiving them, normally intercepted by some red-and-white player.
After a couple of controversial plays, starting with the one by 'Cuti' Romero, who gave Jude Bellingham a studs-up challenge on the knee, a play that the referee on VAR reviewed, but in the end he decided to show only a yellow card to the Argentine. As well as the same Kang-in, on a merengue counterattack, Federico Valverde was going at full speed when the ex-Paris Saint-Germain player dealt the Uruguayan a studs-up challenge above the ankle; however, on this occasion, the Colchonero player did not even see the booking. In this way, the first half ended.
The second half began badly for Real Madrid, as Dean Huijsen received a red card after bringing down Simeone inside the area, who had entered alone with the ball under control. The penalty was correctly taken by Alex Grimaldo; Thibaut Courtois correctly guessed the side it was kicked to, but the shot was quite angled, and he could not reach it. In this way, the Chamartin side found itself at a disadvantage both on the scoreboard and in players on the field.
That numerical disadvantage was quickly taken advantage of by the Colchoneros, who, just a couple of minutes later, after a series of passes on the right flank, Kang-in filtered a great ball to Simeone, who made a low and powerful pass that beat all the white defenders, finally falling at the feet of Jonathan David, who shot in front of the Belgian goalkeeper, who could do nothing to prevent the 2-0.
It wasn't until the 89th minute that Bernardo Silva took charge, after a foul by Diomande outside the area, sending a precise cross into the box, which Antonio Rudiger headed down to make it 2-1 and give the white side hope.
After a second half where Real Madrid went completely unnoticed (omitting the goal), the team lost a lot of creativity after being reduced to 10 players, and Mourinho didn't get the substitutions right, unlike 'Cholo'. Courtois kept the score from being more lopsided, while Yan Diomande tried to create danger, but was practically alone. Without a doubt, a painful defeat for the club, which will have to take advantage of the three-week international break to readjust, because outside the Bernabeu it struggles.
Real Madrid Player Ratings:
T. Courtois: 7.9
M. Cucurella: 6.4
D. Huijsen: 6.2
I. Konate: 7.0
D. Dumfries: 6.5
A. Tchouameni: 6.8
F. Valverde: 6.8
Vinicius Jr.: 6.5
J. Bellingham: 7.1
A. Guler: 6.9
K. Mbappe: 6.9
Atletico Madrid Player Ratings:
J. Oblak: 6.5
A. Grimaldo: 6.8
D. Hancko: 7.2
C. Romero: 7.3
M. Pubill: 6.8
A. Baena: 6.8
J. Cardoso: 6.3
M. Llorente: 6.8
G. Simeone: 7.0
J. David: 7.4
K. Lee: 6.7
Sofascore's statistical engine generated the ratings.
