Liveblog: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid! El Derbi!

By: Steve | October 17th, 2008

Hala Madrid! Que pasan, Madridistas? Hope you’re all revved up for the return of club football, I know I am! As you probably know by now, all our fixtures this year come one matchday after Barcelona have played our opponents. This week, we face an Atletico side that just came off a 6-1 pasting at the hands of the blaugrana.

Corey has some quick bits about the derbi, and i think a deeper preview is here, check it out.

Tune in tomorrow evening at 19h00 GMT to Sky Sports Xtra to catch the match and comment to the liveblog! If you’re overseas in Asia or North America, check the local soccer channel, but failing that, you can use the online links we posted a while back.

1min: and we’re underway…
1min: GOAL!!! I can’t believe it! A great start for Real, as Ruud scores after 34 seconds! Ruud cuts in from the left and lashes an unbelievable turn-and-shoot from about 23 yards out that eludes Leo Franco at the near post. Atletico Madrid 0-1 Real Madrid.
3min: Oh! Another chance for Real! This time it’s Sneijder unleashing a beast of a swerving, dipping shot that Franco just gets a hand on.
4min: Real is dominating the chances right now… Raul takes a quick free kick that catches all the Atletico defenders off-guard except the keeper. This Atletico defense is porous.
6min: Ok, it looks like it’s Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Gago, De La Red, Sneijder, Raul, Ruud and Higuain.
8min: Yellow card on Perea for fouling Raul.
9min: Real’s looking really strong on the ball right now, though Kun Aguero just cut a ball back through the box that Pepe was lucky to deflect away from an oncoming Forlan.
13min: Ok, it’s settled down a bit… Atletico shaking off the rust from the international break, though they really were sleepwalking through the first 10 minutes.
15min: This Atletico side is pretty dangerous going forward, particularly when Aguero is leading the break, with guys like Forlan also leading the line and the very underrated Maniche lurking outside the box…
16min: Ooh, Pernia strikes a left-footed long range attempt that’s parried away by Casillas but is spilled past the touchline for a corner.
18min: Atletico is definitely settling down now, as they’ve had the lion’s share of possession in the last 7-8 minutes… Real’s passing is just a tad off-target, and Atletico are able to intercept and advance.
19min: Wow, I’m literally scared of Kun Aguero every time he gets the ball within 25 yards of the goal. His Messi-like skills at keeping possession are just ridiculous, and he creates enough space to launch a 20-yard shot that’s off-target by a couple feet.
20min: Good buildup play by Real… and they get a corner…
20min: NO! That was ONSIDE! Ruud is denied a brace as Sneijder’s corner is redirected goalward, and Ruud cleans up the bungled save… but the linesman’s flag goes up.
21min: Ooh… Atletico almost gets one back as Ujfalusi is just a bit too far away from the cross into the box.
26min: Real look really good on the counterattack, but they lack that possession type of player who can carry the ball forward on the dribble. If Atletico can stick to their man-marking as they have been doing so far, Real might be in for a really tough match.
29min: NO!!! ANOTHER BAD OFFSIDE CALL! Gago finds Raul with an AMAZING throughball, and he rounds the keeper before tapping it in, but the linesman again throws up the flag incorrectly. Raul was definitely onside, though there were 2 other Real attackers who were in offside positions… brutal.
30min: Oh! Perea is sent off! It looks like a straight red, but he was on a yellow card anyway.
31min: It was an unintentional but quite flagrant swing of the arm that catches Sneijder and gives him a bloody nose.
33min: Atletico, already on the back foot when Real counterattack, will need to commit one less attacker when going forward… plus, Perea was at rightback, so look for Atletico to soon make a change to bring on another defender, likely at the expense of an offensive player.
34min: For now, Johnny Heitinga slides over to rightback, and Raul Garcia is in the middle with Ujfalusi.
34min: Real playing a patient buildup play, now with the numerical advantage on the pitch… but it’s a weak shot from Raul that’s easily caught by Leo Franco.
37min: Raul Garcia picks up a yellow for clipping Ruud… bad timing for Real, cuz De La Red just threaded a sweet throughball for Raul, but it was whistled dead on the foul.
38min: Raul Garcia goes off for Antonio Lopez.
39min: WHAT?!? This ref is HORRID. Ruud is sent off on a straight red for a late challenge on Maniche… that really should’ve been a yellow card.
41min: Well, there’s a lot more space on the pitch, but a lot less width, as even Marcelo is taking possession of the ball in the middle 20 yards of the field.
42min: Marcelo is giving up possession too easily… he’s trying to dribble through the entire left side of the Atletico defense and it’s not working.
45min: Marcelo gambles just a tad too much for my liking… he gets away with it though, as he’s able to outpace Lopez from the outside after the Atletico defender cut into the box with the ball.
45+1min: A yellow card for Assuncao, tripping up Sergio Ramos.
45+3min: Oh! What a poor pass from Aguero, as him and Forlan streak up the pitch on a 2-on-1 against Cannavaro…
HALFTIME: Wow, what an eventful half. Atletico should thank their lucky stars they’re not down 3-0, as the linesman in their end has definitely gotten 2 calls wrong, both leading to would-be goals.
HALFTIME: Schuster might have some words to pep up his team, but he is probably saving his vitriol for the referee crew. Two blown offside calls, plus the harsh red card to Ruud.
HALFTIME: Well, Real are still in control, outplaying and outchancing Atletico here in the Vicente Calderon.
HALFTIME: I’m not sure Schuster will make any changes after halftime, as he’s still got his strongest 4-3-2 combination possible, with Ruud being sent off. We might see Saviola get some time on the pitch later in the second half, if Bernd thinks the Rabbit’s pace will cause problems for a tiring Atletico defense.
46min: Ooh, Banega’s shot goes right across the face of the Real goal, without a touch from either side…
46min: Simao is on… not sure for who.
47min: Ooh, Cannavaro challenges Forlan enough to get the Argentine to shoot off-target.
49min: awww, bad decision by Sneijder, who corrals a long pass in to lead a 3-on-2 but he elects to attempt a shot which is blocked instead of swinging it out wide right to Higuain.
50min: Ooh, Maniche’s shot from distance is just a tad high… pushed out by Casillas anyway for a corner.
51min: Real have taken a couple free kicks quite quickly, before Atletico has a chance to set up… this time, they spring Higuain down the right who tries to cross after getting into the box, but it’s deflected out for a corner.
53min: OH!!! Multiple chances by Real, after some slow, patient buildup… but a clever flick pass over the top by Sneijder is right on the money for Higuain who volleys it right into Franco… the rebound comes out for De La Red, who lashes it and the deflection off Ujfalusi lands into the keeper… Ugh.
56min: Good clearance by Pepe, heading it away from danger from the cross swung in from the right by Atletico…
57min: OH! Kun Aguero streaks up the right with a clear chance but his shot is barely wide… ugh, he’s so dangerous! I practically expect him to score in situations like that.
59min: Come on… Sneijder gives up possession to Aguero, who creates a chance for Maniche, but his shot is easily saved by Casillas.
61min: Another nice interception by Pepe right in front of Casillas, to break up a dangerous pass intended for Maniche.
63min: Good save on Diego Forlan’s attempt from 20 yards, after yet another chance created by Kun Aguero. That guy is amazing… so fast and so skillful.
64min: It’s crazy end-to-end action… one chance for Real, one chance for Atletico… back and forth they go.
66min: Referee is getting some work on his left leg… van der Vaart looks like he’ll be coming on.
68min: It’s Sneijder coming off for vdV.
70min: Ramos gives up a free kick, on a tick-tack challenge on Simao… but the Portuguese skies it over the crossbar.
71min: Pepe’s clearing header doesn’t go very far and Forlan creates a shot but launches it wayward again.
71min: it’s Ujfalusi off for Luis Garcia… Looks like Aguirre is going for it, taking off a centrehalf for an attacking midfielder.
72min: Real might not be attacking too well tonight, with all the wayward passes, but it has to be said that their setpiece defending is way way better.
73min: Maniche is quite ambitious with an attempt from 35+ yards out, but it skids wide harmlessly.
75min: Real is slowing down their counterattacks, taking it at a walking pace, but they’re giving up possession way too easily. It’s only taking 2 or 3 passes and Atletico regain the ball.
76min: Simao gets a great cross but his shot isn’t even close to the goal.
77min: As opposed to Los Merengues, Atletico attack with pace and verve… why is Real constantly jogging the ball up the pitch?
78min: Yellow card for Heitinga.
78min: Javi Garcia comes on for de la Red. I guess he’ll be the defensive MF now, creating the double pivot with Gago.
80min: It really looks like Real are going to settle for the single goal. They’re not pushing forward with any intent, they’re not pursuing errant passes… meh, weak.
82min: I hate it when Real settle in and just play not to concede any goals. It’s such crap to watch.
84min: Great challenge by Pepe and Marcelo after Cannavaro gambles on an interception and muffs it… the ball falls to Aguero who tries to settle the ball and take the shot, but it’s deflected out. A terrible though rare mistake from the Italian stalwart.
85min: Raul comes off for Drenthe. Now this is just time-wasting.
86min: Oh! Great movement by Simao who’s one of those annoyingly good players… Ramos is there to nudge him just off the ball.
87min: Ramos gets a yellow card for tugging on Simao’s shirt.
87min: The clearance is well taken by Pepe.
87min: AHH! How did we not score there? Real break out on a counter, Higuain and Drenthe somehow muff up two chances, though there was some good goalkeeping from Leo Franco.
88min: Ugh, free kick given up by Ramos, fouling Heitinga just outside the penalty area…
90min: GOAL! Simao curls the free kick over the wall into the near side of the goal. I can’t believe it. This is what happens if you’re not pushing forward for more goals. Damn it. Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid.
90+1min: Simao gets a yellow for overzealous celebrating.
90+2min: Ooh, a chance for Forlan to steal two points, but his shot goes wide.
90+3min: Drenthe’s sent into the penalty area, but his first touch lets him down and Franco scoops up the ball…
90+3min: Yellow card on Javi Garcia to stop an Atletico counterattack.
90+5min: We’re well into the 5th minute of stoppage time… i have no idea how much was indicated.
90+6min: OH!!! Drenthe draws a penalty from Heitinga whose clumsy challenge in the box concedes the spot kick! Time for redemption! Great move by one Dutchman on another…
90+6min: GOAL!!! Higuain coolly slots home the penalty to Franco’s right. Somehow, some way, Real have marched off with all 3 points after it seemed they’d given up the ghost. Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid.
90+7min: And we’re done! omg, this was insane.
POSTGAME: That was the most ridiculous win, in my opinion, since the 9-man comeback against Valencia in the Supercopa.
POSTGAME: See what I mean about the attacking? All through the second half, Real tried to build up play through slow, deliberate passing, but without enough movement, they kept getting intercepted.
POSTGAME: but when they attack with pace and incisiveness, they cause mistakes like Heitinga’s wrong-footed challenge on Drenthe.
POSTGAME: This was heartstopping stuff. I can’t count the number of times I screamed at the TV in frustration.
POSTGAME: but somehow… this Real team continues the unmistakable belief that we will prevail. And we did.
POSTGAME: Of course, we should’ve been 3-0 to the good anyways, before Simao scored, but i’ll take it.
POSTGAME: I’ve got a couple parties to go to, so I’ll finish player ratings when i get back… in the meantime, post away in the comments!