Rodriguez rescues point for Real Madrid in derby draw against Atleti

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Rodriguez rescues point for Real Madrid in derby draw against Atleti
Updated
Angel Correa received a straight red card for an elbow on Antonio Rudiger
Angel Correa received a straight red card for an elbow on Antonio Rudiger
AFP
An 85th minute equaliser from Real Madrid substitute Alvaro Rodriguez spared the hosts' blushes against 10-man Atletico Madrid as the sides drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu.

Real held an emotional pre-match tribute to club legend Amancio, who passed away earlier in the week, emerging from the tunnel wearing the Real idol’s famous number seven on their backs.

However, the Blancos failed to channel his spirit onto the pitch, and it was Atleti that started the better of the two sides. In a foreshadowing of the visitors’ awkward relationship with authority that would develop later, they saw claims for a penalty waved away after Federico Valverde inadvertently handled the ball in the box.

In a half that lacked goalmouth action, it was only speculative efforts from distance that called both goalkeepers into action.

Firstly, Marco Asensio stung the palms of Jan Oblak with a dipping shot, and then Yannick Carrasco tested Thibaut Courtois, though both defences managed to get the ball clear on both occasions.

Diego Simeone would have been the more pleased of the two coaches going into the interval goalless, as his side successfully stifled Carlo Ancelotti’s men, who had entered the fray after a 5-2 victory at Anfield in midweek.

On that occasion, the Galacticos battled back from 2-0 down with a superb second half performance, and it was more of the same today as Los Blancos came out with much more attacking intent and aggression going forward. However, for all their dominance, the home side couldn’t unlock a tightly wound Atleti defence.

The visitors also came close to breaking the deadlock when Antoine Griezmann was teed up on the edge of the box, but the Frenchman’s fizzing effort flashed just wide of the post.

Atleti were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark after Angel Correa was shown a straight red card for what looked like an elbow into the midriff of Antonio Rudiger.

Yet, despite playing with a man down, Simeone’s men took the lead after Jose Maria Gimenez rose highest to nod Griezmann’s floated ball into the box, typifying a classic Atletico Madrid performance of grit and determination.

Knowing their grip on the LaLiga trophy was quickly slipping away, Ancelotti’s side threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, and it duly arrived in the 85th minute through 18-year-old Rodriguez, making him the second-youngest goalscorer in Real Madrid’s history, in what was his maiden appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The hosts failed to find a winning goal though, in what is a big blow to their defence of the LaLiga title.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)

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