The capital classic ended in a draw by LaLiga of Spain. (AFP)
Real Madrid (2nd) avoided defeat in the final stretch and drew 1-1 against a numerically inferior Atlético de Madrid (4th), this Saturday in LaLiga matchday 23, in a path that seems pave even more for the leader Barcelona.
the uruguayan Jose Gimenez made dream of victory Athletic by scoring in the 78th minute, perfectly finishing off a free kick hung from the side by the Frenchman Antoine Griezmann.
Real Madrid put the final 1-1 at 85 ‘also with a header from another Uruguayan player, in his case from the 18-year-old alvaro rodriguez in a corner kick launched by Luka Modric.
Rodríguez is one of the great promises of the ‘merengue’ team. This month she had already stood out by providing an assist to Marco Asensio in a league victory against Osasuna.
Despite not winning, Atlético’s result is especially commendable since played with a man less the last half hour of the game by red to Argentine Ángel Correa in minute 63′, when the referee considered that he had elbowed the German Antonio Rüdiger.
Giménez, Atlético’s goalscorer on this occasion, had started as a substitute and came into the game in the 23rd minute, replacing the injured Reinildo. His goal broke a 465-minute streak without Courtois being beaten in the League.
In the ranking, the real Madrid provisionally reduced to seven points his deficit compared to the leader Barcelonawhich can extend its margin to 10 units if it wins on Sunday in the field of modest Almería.
All this just before on Thursday of the new week the classic rivals measure their forces in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
The tie in the derby puts a stop to the euphoria at Real Madrid, who had just won the Club World Cup and then chained two league victories (Osasuna and Elche), before their great 5-2 victory on Tuesday at Liverpool’s ground , in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
“It is not a goodbye to the League. It is even more complicated, but we are going to fight until the end”, promised the Italian coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti.
Simeone, for history
For its part, Atlético continues fourth, within the Champions League zone, but sees its advantage over fifth, Betis, reduced to two points, which on Friday won 3-2 in the field of bottom club Elche.
Beyond the result, the Atlético coach, Diego Simeonelived a special day for two historical data.
With 425 matches he became the coach who directed the most matches for the same club in the history of the Spanish League, surpassing the 424 that Miguel Muñoz coached Real Madrid. In addition, Simeone matched Luis Aragonés as the coach who has led Atlético in the most official matches in its history, with 612.
“We were close to winning the game. But hey, this happens against the big teams,” said Simeone.
In the rest of the matches on Saturday, Rayo Vallecano (6th), in European positions, was surprised and lost 1-0 at Cádiz (14th), which moves away from relegation thanks to a goal from Sergio Guardiola in 74.
Espanyol (12th) settled in the quiet zone with a 2-1 victory against Mallorca (8th), with a double from the Danish Martin Braithwaite.
This Saturday another game will be played, between a Valencia (19th) with all the alarms going off and Real Sociedad (3rd).
