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Kylian Mbappe [Credit: AFP]
Kylian Mbappé secured a 1-1 draw for Real Madrid against rivals Atlético Madrid, keeping Los Blancos top of La Liga on Saturday.
Julián Álvarez dinked home a controversial first-half penalty for Atlético, but Mbappé was in the right place at the right time to bundle the ball home early in the second half on his first appearance in the intense derby clash.
Real Madrid remain one point ahead of second-placed Atlético, with Barcelona, in third, given the chance to close the gap on the top two when they face Sevilla on Sunday.
“We have to continue on this path, we’re in the fight, and we will stay there until the end,” Álvarez told Movistar.
“I can’t say I wasn’t a bit nervous with the penalty, but I was sure—I knew what I would do, and it was a great goal for the team.”
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to deploy his four key attacking players—Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo Goes—rather than taking a more conservative approach.
The star names put in the effort, not always a given in defensive play, and the first half was a hard-fought, intense battle with few clear openings for either side.
Vinícius dragged a shot wide midway through the first half when he found a rare sight of goal for the hosts.
Atlético were frustrated when Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos was only booked for a rough challenge on Pablo Barrios, but it was the hosts who were left furious when referee César Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot.
Aurélien Tchouaméni, covering at centre-back for Madrid with Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão among those unavailable, clumsily stepped on Samuel Lino’s foot in the box.
After a VAR review, Soto Grado awarded a controversial penalty, to Madrid’s frustration, as the incident occurred after the ball had already gone past the duo.
Los Blancos had criticised Spanish refereeing earlier in the week after being upset by a decision in a shock defeat last weekend, increasing scrutiny on the officials ahead of the derby.
Álvarez took the penalty—the first given against Madrid in La Liga this season—and cheekily executed a Panenka down the middle.
“Corruption in the federation,” chanted Real Madrid fans in response, echoing their club’s stance.
Madrid Battle Back
Madrid pulled level early in the second half when Rodrygo broke loose on the right side of the box and crossed for Bellingham.
The England international’s shot was blocked, but Mbappé was on hand to turn home the rebound, scoring on his Madrid derby debut.
Bellingham twice came close to putting Madrid ahead, nodding against the crossbar from a Vinícius cross and then heading straight at Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak from a similar position, kicking the post in frustration.
Madrid played with far more fluidity in the second half and pinned Atlético back, forcing coach Diego Simeone to make defensive-minded changes, including withdrawing his son Giuliano, who had a quiet game on the right wing.
Oblak made a smart save to deny Vinícius after the Brazilian winger burst through the gap between two Atlético defenders and fired from a tight angle.
The Slovenian goalkeeper also managed to keep out a dangerous free-kick from Rodrygo, which was intended as a cross but nearly flew in at the far post.
Oblak made a brave low stop from Mbappé in the 90th minute after Fede Valverde sent the French forward through on goal, and the two sides ultimately shared the points.
AFP
