Tim Sheaff rounds up a brilliant battle in Madrid which saw Atletico and Real play out a goalless first leg in their Champions League quarter-final tie.
This was the twelfth Madrid derby in the last two seasons and Atletico have enjoyed recent encounters, coming out on top.
The match got off to a lively start and Gareth Bale found himself through on goal after just 3 minutes. One-on-one with the Jan Oblak you’d possibly have expected Bale to have found the back of the net but the keeper came out quickly and made a great save.
This really set the tone for the first portion of the game that saw Real Madrid enjoy a lot of the ball in Atletico’s half. They knocked the ball around quickly and Athletico struggled to get hold of the ball and settle themselves.
Though Real enjoyed a lot of the ball in the first half hour, there were few clear cut chances after Bale’s miss. Just before the half hour mark however, Bale made Oblak work again. Finding himself in a few yards of space, Bale struck a low shot from outside the box that forced another good save.
Atletico continued to struggle to really get hold of the ball and found themselves chasing shadows. Their lack f pace up front meant they had no real ‘out ball’ and had to remain disciplined at the back.
Just before the half-time whistle Raphael Varane got hold of the ball on the edge of his box following an Atletico corner and burst forward. His blistering pace took him from box to box and he managed to get a cross away. Again, it was Bale that found himself in the right place at the right time but yet again Oblak denied him with a fantastic reflex save.
Though Real dominated the first half the teams went in at half-time 0-0.
Atletico came out from the half-time break and made sure they got straight on the front foot to break up any momentum Real had mustered in the first half. They pressed higher and got the ball forward quicker and caused Real a few problems.
Ramos caught Mandzukic when the pair went up for a header and cut Mandzukic’s eye. It was a fair leap but the Croatian forward was furious and needed attention. He seem distracted throughout the rest of the half, focused more on leaving a few bruises than getting his team a goal.
Real goes themselves back into the game and the two sides were at loggerheads, neither really creating any clear cut chances.
In the 68th minute Marcelo burst down the left and got the ball in the box. There was a bit of a scramble in the box but after a couple of blocked shots Atletico managed to clear their lines.
At the 75 minute mark Benzema went off and was replaced with the fan’s favourite, Isco. Atletico brought Raul Garcia on for Griezman.
In the last period Atletico were piling on the pressure and looked more dangerous than they had done all game. There were a few scraps and half chances but Madrid managed to hold on as Casillas clawed the ball out of danger.
The match ended goalless and Real will rue the chances they squandered in the first half, failing to capitalise on their overall dominance.
That’s the seventh derby of the season and Real are yet to get a win over their neighbours – they haven’t even scored away against Atletico – and it’s now all to play for in the reverse fixture.
In the other European fixture tonight Juventus managed to edge past a resilient Monaco thanks to a 57th minute penalty from Arturo Vidal.