Real Madrid 4 – Atletico Madrid 1 match report: La Decima finally comes home

Real Madrid lifted the long-awaited Decima in a thrilling match that they seemed to have lost until the 93rd minute, when Sergio Ramos equalised and sent the game into extra time.

Iker Casillas’ mistake had given Atletico Madrid the lead, and the Colchoneros defended brilliantly during most of the game. However, in extra time they were so exhausted that Los Merengues managed to score three goals and take the trophy home.

It was not the best game to watch for someone who’s not a fan of one of the two Madrid sides. Atletico was tightly closed in defence, while Real didn’t seem to know how to threaten Thibaut Courtois.

Yet, Gareth Bale had a glorious opportunity to put Los Blancos ahead as he intercepted a shocking Tiago Mendes pass and set off towards goal. The Welshman shot from inside the box, but his effort was wide of the far post.

However, Los Merengues got unlucky in a corner kick. The ball was initially cleared, but a header was looped back into the area. Iker Casillas thought he could make it and started the charge from his goalline, but when he realised he couldn’t reach the ball it was too late. Diego Godin flicked a header towards goal, and despite Casillas effort, the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Carlo Ancelotti men were more intense in the second half, especially after Marcelo and Isco came in for Fabio Coentrao and Sami Khedira. Luka Modric and Isco took control of the game, and Madrid started having their chances.

Isco missed a clear shot from inside the ball, and Bale also had two great chances to equalise, but both efforts went wide of the post.

Madrid kept insisting desperately, with Angel di Maria and Marcelo sending dozens of crosses from the left. Courtois and Atletico’s defence denied all Los Blancos efforts.

However, when Atleti saw themselves lifting the trophy, Ramos headed Real level with just a minute remaining. The Andalucian peeled away from his marker and planted a powerful header right into the bottom corner from Luka Modric’s outswinging corner.

The extra-time was very tense. Both teams feared of making mistakes and didn’t risk a bit. Real had control of possession, but Atletico had eleven man defending and Los Blancos didn’t even send one shot on target during the first half.
The 22 players were exhausted as the second half of extra-time kick-off. Juanfran Torres was injured, but he had to keep on playing since Atletico had made all three substitutions.

And it was in Juanfran’s side that Di Maria found space to run in a counter-attack. He drove at two defenders and tried to bend a shot towards the far corner. Thibaut Courtois made a great save, but Bale leaped into the air and headed the ball into an empty net.

With ten minutes remaining, Atletico players had no energies to chase the equaliser neither to defend Real threat. Marcelo and Ronaldo scored two goals in two minutes to seal the victory. The Brazilian shot from inside the box into the back of the net and the Portuguese scored a penalty after a foul by Juanfran.