Kylian Mbappé made a memorable impact in his inaugural derby against Atletico Madrid, scoring the equalizer in a match that concluded in a 1-1 stalemate. This result allowed Real Madrid to retain its narrow lead in the Spanish league standings on Saturday.
Next up for Mbappé and his team is a challenging encounter against Manchester City, as they prepare for the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase on Tuesday.
Atletico Madrid initially took the lead with a penalty kick converted by Julián Álvarez in the 35th minute. However, Mbappé struck back just after halftime, equalizing for Real Madrid in the 50th minute, keeping them one point clear of Atletico in the league table. As Madrid searched for a second goal, Jude Bellingham came close, hitting the crossbar with a header. Meanwhile, Atletico’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak made crucial saves to deny attempts from Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior, and Mbappé, ensuring the match ended in a draw at Santiago Bernabeu.
Reflecting on the game, Álvarez remarked, “We knew how to hang in there and had our chances. We are in the fight and will stay in it right to the end.” Atletico Madrid is keen to secure more league titles, following their successes in 2021 and 2014 under the leadership of coach Diego Simeone. Barcelona, currently standing in third place, trails Madrid by five points ahead of their match against Sevilla on Sunday.
The game began with a significant disadvantage for Real Madrid as injuries forced coach Carlo Ancelotti to deploy an unconventional backline composed of Lucas Vázquez, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Raul Asencio, and Fran García. A challenging tackle from Tchouaméni that tripped Samuel Lino led to a penalty being awarded after a video review. Álvarez stepped up and calmly converted the penalty down the middle while Thibaut Courtois dove left.
Antoine Griezmann showcased his playmaking skills, creating opportunities with his precise passing. He delivered two expertly placed balls to Álvarez and Lino, but both players failed to capitalize on their chances due to mishandling. Simeone observed, “It is a draw that leaves both teams thinking they could have gotten a better result. We had some situations that we lacked the clarity we needed to resolve better.”
The second half saw Real Madrid pressing for a turnaround, starting with Rodrygo’s run along the right flank, where he set up Bellingham at the center only for the latter’s shot to deflect into the path of Mbappé, who found the net for his first goal against Atletico. Following the equalizer, Madrid continued their offensive push, with Vinícius attempting to set up Bellingham who hit the crossbar with a powerful header.
Simeone made tactical changes by swapping both full-backs after the hour mark, but Oblak remained a crucial figure for Atletico, thwarting multiple attempts from the hosts. Ancelotti commented on the competitive nature of the league, stating, “It is going to be a tightly contested league until the very end.”
Ahead of the Manchester City clash, Ancelotti hinted at potential changes to his lineup, particularly in midfield, as his options in defense are limited. This could see Dani Ceballos replaced by either Eduardo Camavinga or Luka Modric. Prior to the kickoff, former Madrid player Marcelo received a tribute following his recent retirement announcement.
In another match, Oihan Sancet orchestrated Athletic Bilbao’s 3-0 victory over Girona, scoring a hat trick that moves the Basque club closer to Barcelona, just one point adrift in the standings. Coach Ernesto Valverde’s squad, notable for only fielding players from the Basque Country, has been resilient, remaining unbeaten for 14 rounds since their last defeat to Girona on October 6.
In a thrilling match, Antony scored his first goal for Real Betis since joining on loan from Manchester United, but Celta Vigo staged an impressive comeback from two goals down to secure a 3-2 victory. Antony’s early goal and Diego Llorente’s follow-up were not enough to secure the win as Celta responded with a powerful strike from Fran Beltran and late goals from Javi Rodríguez and Williot Swedberg to clinch the match.
Additionally, in Villarreal’s 2-1 victory over Las Palmas, Alejandro Baena and Ayoze Pérez each found the net. The match was interrupted briefly in the 20th minute when players and fans honored Kirian Rodríguez in support of the Las Palmas midfielder who announced he would be taking time away from soccer to treat recurring cancer.
