El Derbi Madrileño between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid has become one of the most anticipated and infamous fixtures in the Champions League. Back in 2014 they disputed a final in Lisboa and once more at the San Siro in Milan on 2016. Real Madrid has come out on top on both instances and it was the same story tonight. 2-1 in favor of ”Los Merengues”.
Remember Rodrygo?
Do you all remember back in the summer of 2024, when it was confirmed that Kylian Mbappé would be moving to the Bernabéu and everyone was speculating about how Rodrygo was going to get pushed out of the squad? Maybe to Manchester City some would say, rumours every single one. Long story short the Brazilian stayed and fought for his place in the starting lineup. And tonight he proved he deserves that place. A top shelf goal within the first five minutes of the match assisted by the returning captain Fede Valverde. Rodrygo was in mercurial form wreaking havoc on the wing and putting Javi Galán through the wringer. An honorable mention should go to Brahim Diaz who got the second goal and worked hard for the team.
Alvarez’s Banger
The new kid on the block for Atleti came with a hefty price tag and struggled to justify it at the start of the season, but he has now comfortably settled into the main goalscoring reference for this squad. Leaving Manchester City’s serial winning team, must not have been an easy decision to make but as part of the “Citizens” he would always had been second fiddle to Erling Haaland. Tonight he took matters into his own hands and scored an absolute screamer of a goal after beating Eduardo Camavinga on the wing.
What’s in Store for Next Week?
It is still very much game on in the second leg of this fixture. Only one goal separates these two sides and next week they will have the play in Atleti’s home soil. Carlo Ancelotti And his boys might try to settle the match early by increasing the goal difference but Diego Simeone has evolved into a great tactician onn his own right and could end up turning the tide of “Los Blancos”.