After fifth located Real Betis misplaced to Barcelona Saturday, 4th placed Atletico Madrid knew they could deliver themselves a real preventing hazard inside the race for the Champions League have to they pick out up points in opposition to city opponents, Real on Sunday nighttime. To the elation of the home lovers at the Wanda Metropolitano, Diego Simeone's side did just that.
Atletico made tougher work of it than they ought to have achieved but, as the match changed into affected by neglected opportunities from the house side. On another day, must Carlo Ancelotti not have fielded efficaciously his B team, the squandered Atletico probabilities could have come again to haunt them. However, Yannick Carrasco's penalty simply earlier than half time changed into sufficient at hand the crimson and white 1/2 of Madrid all 3 factors after the final whistle sounded.
Simeone's aspect commenced the suit with real cause as they went near two times in the beginning ten minutes. First, Correa located himself with time to shoot within the Real field, however he sent his shot lower back throughout replacement goalkeeper, Lunin, and just extensive of the mark. Moments later, Carrasco, who became dangerous all nighttime lengthy, reduce in from the left, shimmied past Casemiro then flashed his shot extensive at the close to put up.
The warning symptoms were there for all to see and after a dominating display in the starting 40 mins of the match, Atletico have been presented a penalty after Cunha changed into sandwhiched clumsily by means of Vallejo and Militao inside the field. Originally, the referee did now not give the penalty, a good deal to the dismay of the home players and fanatics. However, after being suggested by using the VAR, he changed his on subject decision and pointed to the spot. Carrasco stepped up to convert the spot kick, sending Lunin the wrong manner.
Simeone placed Griezmann onto the pitch at half of time and he wreaked havock inside the 2d 45. After Casemiro fluffed a sweeping Real pass Ateltico's French ahead missed a hat-trick of possibilities at the opposite give up. This became observed with the aid of the woodwork denying Carrasco a 2d as Real breathed a sigh of alleviation.
Ancelotti threw a number of his bigger name players onto the sphere in an try to salvage at least a factor, however regardless of a nervy ending to the game with the home side pinned back of their very own half, the league champions have been unable to discover a leveller and Ateltico ended the game with all three factors. The win means they stay in fourth area, however crucially six points ahead of Real Betis with just 3 greater games left to play of the La Liga season.
