Madrid moved a little further from the League, if possible, by only being able to tie the derby after a game that was reduced, far from the usual emotions except for the last half hour, which concentrated everything noteworthy, when Correa decided to give him a elbow (of interpretable virulence) in the chest to Rüdiger, who passes him two heads, and was sent off with a direct red. The Argentine had just entered.
From then on the derby was a recognizable derby. Not as chronicle of events as other times but at least it stopped being a boring game more than anything else. With one less, Atlético took the lead with a good header from Giménez but the whites had time to equalize with another from Uruguayan youth squad player Álvaro Rodríguez, his first goal under Ancelotti.
The first hour had been very boring. Perhaps because the two teams are no longer ready for many things in this League: Madrid, because they see it as far away and have more important goals within reach after their victory at Anfield. Atlético, because they feel they have a place in the Champions League more or less assured and travel through the competition taking refuge in their defensive reliability, recovered after the World Cup. He appeared in Chamartín with a goal conceded in the last five games.
To add coldness to the atmosphere, minutes before the start of the game, he unloaded a snowstorm on the Bernabeu. In the stands there were barely a hundred mattress fans and this time Vinícius lived comfortably, without anyone remembering him. But the Brazilian was not fine at all after his exhibition at Anfield. He met a Nahuel Molina who clipped his wings without the need for many fouls.
In Madrid, which had the casualties of Alaba and Rodrygo, Ancelotti had a midfield with Kroos, Valverde and Ceballos acting as Modric. Arriba gave Asensio the right winger, who was the most boisterous of the Whites in the first half.
At Atlético, Simeone portrayed himself with an eleven with a single striker, Griezman, with Llorente further behind. On the bench was his army of attackers, with Correa, Morata and Memphis Depay himself, who has not just won the title. Morata was the best of the mattresses in the Cup, but that was of no use to him.
Madrid ruled the game in the first half without creating anything dangerous. Oblak went unnoticed because his defense closed the gaps for the shots and the whites were never close to scoring. Their centers to the pot were repelled without problems by Atlético's towers.
The biggest problem for the colchoneros came in minute 22 with the injury to Reinildo, who bent his knee and had to be replaced by the Uruguayan José María Giménez. The Brazilian full-back had been possibly Atlético's best defender this season.
Atlético did not produce anything offensively in the first half, where Griezmann ran a lot, but very alone. Nor did Courtois need to intervene once.
Simeone must not have liked something because at half-time he left Pablo Barrios, who had not been bad, in the dugout and sent Ángel Correa out. By playing with a second striker, Atlético began the second act more offensive, something that did not last long because Madrid responded with one more march and the game finally gained in intensity and liveliness.
In the 60th minute, some good play by Carrasco culminated in a shot that went just wide of Griezmann. It was the first clear chance for the colchoneros in the entire game. Valverde immediately replied with a strong shot from outside the area. He no longer waited for Ancelotti and made a triple change. Tchouaméni, Camavinga and Modric entered and Asensio, Ceballos and Toni Kroos left.
From there the game caught fire. Gil Manzano drew a direct red card from Correa at minute 65 for an elbow to Rüdiger's chest. Simeone made visible gestures to indicate the difference in size between one and the other. Atlético had already finished the Cup game with ten due to the expulsion of Savic in extra time.
With one less, Atlético did not close in and found their goal in a good header from Giménez after a free kick by Griezmann poorly defended by the white defense. It was minute 78 and everything seemed decided.
Madrid went up with everything and against an entrenched Atlético began to find chances. In minute 85 Álvaro Rodriguez equalized after a good center from Modric. The Bernabeu fell apart with its youth squad, in which a nine like the one Mariano has never been has signed up for.
Madrid pressed until the end, but Atlético resisted, with defensive order and without losing their heads. He didn't have any more trouble. He takes a point that only serves to embitter Madrid. But for them it is already a lot.
