Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Dramatic Equaliser in Heated Derby

Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against city rivals Real Madrid in a thrilling Madrid derby. The match, however, was interrupted for about 20 minutes during the second half due to crowd issues at Atletico’s stadium.

The incident occurred shortly after Eder Militao had given Real Madrid the lead in the 64th minute. Real’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois complained to the officials about objects being thrown at him from the home fans behind his goal. This prompted an announcement over the public address system, and the referee decided to halt the game temporarily, asking both teams to return to their dressing rooms.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone, along with several players, attempted to diffuse the situation by interacting with home supporters, urging them to remain calm. After the situation was brought under control, play resumed, and Militao’s deflected strike seemed likely to secure a Real Madrid victory.

However, in stoppage time, substitute Angel Correa stepped up to round Thibaut Courtois and score a dramatic equaliser. Initially disallowed, the goal was awarded after a VAR review confirmed Correa was onside when he ran onto the through ball. The last-minute equaliser ensured a share of the spoils in a match that only truly came to life after the suspension.

The heated contest took another twist as Atletico’s Marcos Llorente received a red card for a reckless late challenge on Fran Garcia, adding to the drama of the Madrid derby. Despite the chaos, Simeone was particularly critical of Courtois, stating that the goalkeeper’s goal celebration towards the fans only escalated tensions.

“You can celebrate a goal but not by looking at the fans, making gestures like that,” Simeone told DAZN. He further referenced incidents where Real Madrid fans had thrown objects at Courtois during his time as an Atletico player, suggesting there was a history of animosity.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, backed the decision to suspend the game. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the positives, despite conceding late. “We were very close to winning, but this can happen against a strong opponent,” Ancelotti said. “I always think positively; I think we gained a point on the leaders.”

With Barcelona losing to Osasuna, Real Madrid gained ground in the La Liga title race. Barcelona remains three points ahead of Real Madrid, while Atletico Madrid sits two points behind in third place. Notably, Atletico and Real are the only two unbeaten teams in La Liga this season.

Ancelotti’s men have now extended their unbeaten league run to 40 matches, a streak dating back to last season’s defeat to Atletico in September 2023. The absence of key player Kylian Mbappe due to a thigh injury was felt, but Real Madrid came close to doubling their lead when Jan Oblak made an excellent save from Vinicius Jr’s low shot after play resumed.

At the other end, Courtois made a crucial save to deny Samuel Lino, who came on as a substitute for Atletico. It was another substitute, Angel Correa, who eventually rescued Atletico with an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time. The drama wasn’t over yet, as Marcos Llorente was sent off four minutes later following a VAR review that upgraded his yellow card to a red.

The match provided all the drama that fans have come to expect from the Madrid derby, with Angel Correa’s stoppage-time equaliser ensuring a thrilling conclusion to a heated contest.