Real Madrid won the Derby against Atlético de Madrid at Vicente Calderón 0-3 with a hat trick of Cristiano Ronaldo. It was a key match for Los Blancos and they did a great performance against one of the toughest teams in all the world. Zidane decided that Nacho and Varane should be the full backs pair and Lucas Vázquez also entered from the beginning instead of Karim Benzema. Real Madrid played with a different formation and worked perfectly.
Los Blancos started the match really good, controlling the game and playing with a lot of intensity. Cristiano Ronaldo had the first chance from a header, but Oblak made an amazing safe when everyone thought it was going to be the first goal. In the minute 23rd Cristiano opened the score board from a free kick that touched Savic and Oblak could not react. With this goal, Cristiano is the player with more goals from free kicks of the current players of La Liga, with 20 so far. After the first goal, Real Madrid played even better that in the beginning highlighting the first half of Isco , helping his teammates, stealing many balls and showing his quality in every ball. Atlético Madrid did not have any clear opportunity in all the first half because Los Blancos were defending really good and they did not give any chance to Atlético’s attackers. Griezmann is Atletico de Madrid best player and he was disappeared in all the first half.
In the second half, Los Blancos were playing a bit worse than in the first one and Atlético had the first opportunities to tie the match, but Keylor Navas prevented it. In the minute 70, Savic tried to steal the ball inside the box to Cristiano but the result was a penalty. The Portuguese striker scored the second goal from a perfect free kick. With 0-2, it was all easier and only 5 minutes later Los Blancos did a great counter attack leaded by Bale that assisted to Cristiano, and the Portuguese signed his second hat trick of the season. With 0-3 Zidane started to do the substitutions and Benzema entered replacing Isco and James entered by Cristiano in the last 10 minutes. Asensio also replaced Lucas Vázquez in the minute 87.
We can say that Los Blancos played maybe the most complete game of the season especially in the first half, against a team that is very difficult because of their intensity and the great organization Simeone’s team have. Zidane decided to change the formation because of the injuries Real Madrid had and it has been a great success. Now is time to think in Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon.
