Late Correa equalizer denies Real Madrid in Madrid derby

In a dramatic and chaotic Madrid derby, Atlético Madrid salvaged a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid deep into injury time, with Ángel Correa netting the equalizer. The match was marred by an extended delay due to crowd misbehavior, as Atlético fans disrupted the game by throwing objects onto the pitch. Kylian Mbappé, who had been instrumental in Real's recent winning streak, missed the match due to injury, forcing Carlo Ancelotti to adjust his tactics.

Mbappé absence forces system change

Coming into the derby with five consecutive wins, Real Madrid was looking to capitalize on FC Barcelona's earlier slip-up. The absence of Kylian Mbappé, sidelined with a thigh injury, marked a major setback for Los Blancos. Ancelotti adapted by introducing Luka Modric into the midfield to gain more control over the game. Despite the tactical shift, Real Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Jude Bellingham, still searching for his first goal against Atlético, had the best opportunity for Real, but his tame shot was easily dealt with by Jan Oblak. Vinícius Júnior, otherwise quiet for much of the match, came close to pressuring Oblak into an error, but the Slovenian goalkeeper calmly averted the danger.

On the other end, Atlético Madrid, celebrating Antoine Griezmann's 500th La Liga appearance, also failed to pose significant threats. The first half ended uneventfully, with Luka Modric receiving a controversial yellow card in what was otherwise a subdued opening 45 minutes.

Militão breaks the deadlock

It took more than an hour of play for the match to truly come to life, with set pieces becoming crucial. Éder Militão finally broke the deadlock for Real Madrid after a corner fell to his feet, and the Brazilian defender blasted the ball in at the far post to make it 1-0. The goal ignited tensions on and off the pitch, particularly among Atlético's fans. Frustrated by the scoreline, Atlético supporters began hurling objects, including lighters and even more unsavory items, towards Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. This led to a lengthy stoppage in play, with the match paused for over 20 minutes while officials dealt with the unruly behavior.

Atlético's late surge and VAR drama

When the game finally resumed, Real Madrid seemed closer to a second goal than Atlético did to equalizing. However, the home side came alive in the dying moments, with Samuel Lino forcing Courtois into a brilliant save to tip his shot over the bar. In the final moments of injury time, Atlético found their breakthrough. Ángel Correa was sent through on goal, and after a scramble, managed to slot the ball past Courtois. Although the assistant referee initially raised the flag for offside, VAR overturned the decision, awarding Atlético the equalizer to the dismay of Real Madrid. The drama didn’t end there, as VAR was once again called into action following a dangerous tackle by Marcos Llorente. His initial yellow card was upgraded to a red after review, but with the final whistle looming, neither side could find a winning goal.

A stalemate in the title race

Both teams remain unbeaten in La Liga but missed a crucial opportunity to take advantage of Barcelona’s earlier slip-up. With the 1-1 draw, Real Madrid edges closer to Barcelona in the standings, but both Madrid clubs will rue the missed chance to gain ground on the league leaders. The focus now shifts to the upcoming fixtures, where both Atlético and Real will be eager to get back to winning ways. As the season progresses, this thrilling derby will likely be remembered for its chaotic ending and missed opportunities for both sides.