Brahim Diaz winner offers Actual Madrid a slender first leg lead over rivals Atletico in Champions League final 16 conflict.
An outstanding objective from Brahim Diaz helped Actual Madrid preserve its dominance of the Madrid derby on Europe’s greatest stage with a 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Atletico within the first leg of their Champions League final 16 tie.
Actual Madrid had taken an early lead within the fourth minute on the Bernabeu Stadium by means of Rodrygo, however Julian Alvarez levelled for Atletico with a shocking shot within the thirty second.
Nonetheless, though Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who misplaced within the 2014 and 2016 finals in opposition to their bitter rivals, stored stars Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe quiet, they nonetheless got here up quick.
The Rojiblancos performed it secure within the closing phases, seeming to simply accept their one-goal drawback for the second-leg derby conflict at residence subsequent week.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti opted for Morocco worldwide Diaz in midfield to switch the suspended Jude Bellingham, and chosen Fede Valverde at proper again after he was handed match to play.
The Italian had demanded his aspect present a greater perspective and extra dedication than throughout their LaLiga defeat by Actual Betis on Saturday, and his expenses delivered.
Rodrygo pounced after simply 4 minutes, slipping inside Javi Galan to gather Valverde’s teasing move earlier than firing residence together with his left foot throughout Jan Oblak and contained in the far put up.
It was the Brazilian winger’s fifth strike of the match, habitually shining on the European stage for Madrid, the place he boasts 25 targets in 61 appearances.
Rodrygo needed a penalty when Galan appeared to carry him again within the space however his appeals have been waved away.
His compatriot Vinicius got here near netting Madrid’s second as he surged into the field however Jose Gimenez blocked his shot effectively.
Atletico started to create hazard of their very own and Valverde hacked away Giuliano Simeone’s whipped ball from below his personal crossbar below strain from Samuel Lino.
Alvarez levelled with a superb particular person objective, dancing away from Eduardo Camavinga on the left of the field and curling his shot previous Thibaut Courtois into the highest nook.
The previous Manchester Metropolis striker has been in elegant type up to now few weeks, notching 10 targets in 14 matches and proving why Atletico made him their second-most costly signing of all time final summer time.
Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo De Paul helped Atletico maintain management for lengthy durations, with Madrid discovering it exhausting to take the ball again from their rivals.
That made it all of the extra stunning when Diaz restored Los Blancos’s lead within the fifty fifth minute.
The midfielder left Gimenez on the ground with some fast footwork and carved out the house for a tidy low end earlier than leaping into the group to have fun.
Griezmann fired vast and Gimenez over as Atletico appeared for a response and Ancelotti introduced on 39-year-old midfielder Luka Modric in quest of extra management.
The Croatian delivered simply that and neither aspect threatened within the closing half-hour of the match till stoppage time, when Madrid may need secured a 3rd.
Mbappe’s cut-back from the appropriate was behind Vinicius who was ready for a tap-in, and Oblak saved from Modric within the aftermath.
Atletico host Actual Madrid subsequent week on the Metropolitano stadium, with the winner absolutely dealing with Arsenal, who thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 within the Netherlands of their quarterfinal first leg.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa received 3-1 at Membership Brugge, and Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 at residence to Lille.
