Overcoming obstacles to get through the Champions League group stage as the top team, Real Madrid entered the real challenge when returning to La Liga with a derby, welcoming Atletico Madrid at home. In the domestic league, Atletico is a very perfect team and dominates the top position.
However, Atletico's strength does not make Zinedine Zidane afraid. Welcoming the return of Dani Carvajal on the right wing of the defense, the French coach returned Lucas Vazquez to the role of winger with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior. The remaining positions are still the factors that played in the win over Monchengladbach in midweek.
For Atletico, coach Simone has chosen Hector Herrera as the starting lineup instead of Saul Niguez in the 3-5-2 formation. That is a guarantee towards the goal of winning at least 1 point. However, it was quite surprising that Simeone's students became confusingly "gentle".
Although the ball possession rate was not too different, the visitors' attack, with Luis Suarez and Joao Felix, became harmless in the first half. Partly because they did not receive support from midfielders, partly because Real Madrid's defense and midfield were really focused.
When there is concentration, the "White Vultures" are really a concern for any opponent. With a stable foundation behind them, Benzema and his teammates play football as if they have never had a crisis that has put them in trouble in recent times.
It was the French striker who gave Atletico his first warning. Before his dangerous and powerful left-footed shot, only Jan Oblak's brilliance was able to reflect in time, the ball hit the post and out.
The home team maintained the pressure and the result was Casemiro's goal in the 15th minute, when he chose a good position to welcome Toni Kroos' corner kick and head the ball into Oblak's net. Atletico tried to speed up the pressure but as I said, Real Madrid's defense was cautious and alert enough to handle all situations.
With his players having only one shot in the first half, Simeone has moved to three positions after the break. They performed better in the second half, in which Thomas Lemar missed a very good opportunity.
When Simeone had just sent Saul in to replace Felix, Real Madrid scored a second goal. Taking the ball out, from outside the penalty area, Carvajal fired a very strong shot, the ball hit the post, hit the sloppinos' back and into the goal.
Zidane was not a "moderate player" even when Simeone made a fifth substitution. He only adjusted when the match was more than 10 minutes away to ensure the score was maintained. The Royal team has completed the task of winning 3 points, thereby rising to 3rd place.
After the first defeat of the season, ending a 26-match unbeaten streak in La Liga, Atletico are only 3 points ahead of Real Madrid.
