Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid: Capital clubs 10 points off the pace

Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid: Capital clubs 10 points off the pace

Cristiano Ronaldo volvió a fallar delante de portería
Cristiano Ronaldo volvió a fallar delante de portería | sport

It was the first goalless La Liga derby draw between these sides since 2005

Neither were at their best and both stay a long way off the top

Barcelona might not be playing spectacular football yet, but at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night, we saw why Real Madrid and Atletico sit third and fourth, and no higher. Both 10 points adrift of the Catalans. Some say the title race is over already.

MATCH FACTS
Liga Santander 2017-2018

Atlético de Madrid

0 ________________ 0

Real Madrid

LINE UP

Atlético de Madrid

Oblak, Juanfran, Godín, Savic, Lucas Hernández, Saúl, Thomas (Carrasco, 54'), Gabi, Koke, Correa (Gameiro, 77') y Griezmann (Torres, 77').

Real Madrid

Casilla, Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos (Nacho, 46'), Marcelo, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Isco, Benzema (Marco Asensio, 76') y Cristiano Ronaldo.

Goles

No hubo.

Árbitro

Fernández Borbalán (colegio andaluz). Amonestó a Carvajal (20'), Savic (34'), Saúl (63'), Koke (70'), Juanfran (77'), Nacho (82'), Lucas (82') y Godín (89').

Incidencias

Partido de la 12ª jornada de la Liga Santander disputado en el estadio Wanda Metropolitano en presencia de 66.496 espectadores. Se guardó un minuto de silencio en memoria del ex jugador rojiblanco Feliciano Rivilla.

The balance of power in the game shifted one way then the other, but neither team was convincing enough to deserve victory. Neither team created enough chances to deserve it.

The hosts’ best chance came after three minutes. Atletico bumbled and bundled their way through, with the ball ricocheting through to Angel Correa who only had the goalkeeper to beat, but he fired wide of the near post. Even Atletico long-suffering fans, who have been through it all, couldn’t believe he’d missed.

It was in keeping with Atletico’s main problem this season

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane grimaced on the touchline, praying his defence would try and deter rather than abet Atletico next time.

At the other end Juanfran did a much better job when he raced Cristiano Ronaldo for a ball over the top, beating the Portuguese to it by inches—if he’d lost out in the race the Madrid man would have been through on goal. Atletico’s fans cheered as if Juanfran’s recovery was a goal.

Although the atmosphere at kick-off was a little subdued—perhaps after Barcelona moved further clear at the top of the table—the pace of the game saw the temperature rise at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Angel Correa punted a ball into the prone Karim Benzema’s head after the whistle had blown but got away with it on the grounds of it being an ‘accident’, while Dani Carvajal went into the book for a rash challenge on Lucas Hernandez.

Half an hour in there were no shots on target but also no let up of the tension, with both sides in the knowledge that defeat would leave them wildly adrift in the title race.

Toni Kroos broke into the box at the other end after a quick exchange of passes with Ronaldo, but fired wide as Madrid finally put a good move together.

It gave them confidence and they began to create openings, albeit none as clear as Kroos’ chance.

The intensity did not let up, with Ramos given a boot to the face by Lucas as he challenged for the ball, resulting in a lot of blood and a hasty patch-up job by the doctors.

Madrid’s captain was beaten by the injury, later revealed to be a broken nose, and he was removed in the break for Nacho.

Atletico shifted formation to 4-4-2, bringing off Thomas Partey for Yannick Carrasco, although the midfielder had scored three of the team’s last four goals ahead of this game.

It swung the game back in their favour, although chances were still hard to come by.

Kevin Gameiro came closest, with his effort lofted over Kiko Casilla headed off the line brilliantly by Raphael Varane.

At the other end Ronaldo’s free-kick from an extremely wide angle was pushed wide by Jan Oblak, as the game rose to a loud, end-to-end, but ultimately impotent finale.