Madrid Derby
The Bernabéu derby ended in a draw, with Julián Álvarez scoring the opening goal for Atlético Madrid from a penalty, while Kylian Mbappé equalized for Real Madrid.
This draw did not change the standings at the top of the table, as Real Madrid remained in first place, one point ahead of Atlético Madrid. However, Barcelona could close the gap if they defeated Sevilla, reducing the difference to two points behind Real Madrid and one point behind Atlético. The match was marked by protests from Real Madrid fans over refereeing decisions, particularly after Atlético's goal came from a penalty awarded by VAR, which further angered the Merengue supporters.
Both Real Madrid and Atlético entered the match with ambitions of taking sole possession of the top spot in La Liga, which was reflected in the lineups chosen by Ancelotti and Simeone. The Italian coach deployed all available defensive options while fielding a full-strength attacking lineup, while Simeone opted to start Barrios instead of Koke in a familiar formation.
The match began cautiously, with Atlético appearing more dangerous in the early minutes, although genuine chances were few. Real Madrid, on the other hand, did not fully utilize their attacking strength, as the players seemed more focused on the defensive duties emphasized by Ancelotti throughout the season. The only player who broke this pattern was Rodrygo, who constantly moved in search of space.
Atlético relied on organized defense and waited for Real Madrid's mistakes to launch counterattacks, while the home team controlled possession without creating significant danger. The first real threat came in the 19th minute through Vinícius Júnior, prompting Real Madrid to intensify their attacks, with Mbappé and Vinícius becoming more prominent.
However, the turning point of the match came in the 32nd minute when referee Soto Gradó awarded a penalty to Atlético after a foul by Tchouaméni on Lino. After a VAR review, the decision was confirmed, and Julián Álvarez successfully converted the penalty in the 35th minute, sparking outrage among the Bernabéu crowd, who chanted against the Spanish Football Federation.
Real Madrid entered the second half determined to equalize and succeeded quickly, as Mbappé scored the tying goal in the 50th minute following a pass from Rodrygo and a failed attempt by Bellingham, which the French star capitalized on to beat Oblak. Bellingham nearly added a second goal with a header that hit the crossbar in the 51st minute, injecting excitement into the match as Real Madrid continued to press and Atlético sought to regain the lead.
Simeone made changes, bringing on Koke, Molina, and Reinildo to revitalize the team, while Ancelotti kept his lineup unchanged, satisfied with his team's attacking performance. Nevertheless, Atlético continued to threaten Courtois' goal, particularly through Marcos Llorente after he pushed forward. As the match approached its conclusion, it seemed that the team scoring next would decide the derby, prompting Simeone to introduce Correa and Sorloth, while Modrić and Camavinga came on for Real Madrid.
In the final minutes, both teams appeared to avoid taking risks, with Real Madrid playing cautiously to avoid defeat and Atlético maintaining a strong defensive stance. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the standings unchanged at the top of La Liga and keeping the title race wide open.