A Clash of Titans: Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid Battle it Out in a Copa del Rey Thriller
Madrid, Spain – In a highly anticipated Copa del Rey clash, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid locked horns once again, this time at the Metropolitano Stadium, with a quarterfinal berth on the line. The match, played on January 18, 2024, lived up to its billing, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions, dramatic twists, and ultimately, a hard-fought victory for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
A Tale of Two Halves and a Thrilling Extra Time
The first half of the match set the stage for a captivating encounter. Atletico Madrid took the lead in the 39th minute through Samuel Lino, who capitalized on a defensive error by Antonio Rüdiger to slot the ball home from close range. However, Real Madrid responded swiftly, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak inadvertently turning a Luka Modric free-kick into his own net just before the break, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second half continued in a similar vein, with both teams trading blows. In the 57th minute, another defensive lapse by Real Madrid gifted Atletico Madrid a goal. Eduardo Camavinga’s poor pass back found its way to Álvaro Morata, who gleefully tapped the ball into an empty net, putting Atletico back in the lead.
Real Madrid refused to go down without a fight. In the 82nd minute, Morata missed a glorious chance to extend Atletico’s lead, which proved costly. Real Madrid launched a swift counterattack, resulting in Jude Bellingham crossing the ball to Joselu, who headed home the equalizer, sending the match into extra time.
Griezmann and Riquelme Seal the Victory for Atletico Madrid
As the match entered extra time, the intensity and drama only intensified. In the 100th minute, Antoine Griezmann produced a moment of magic, dispossessing Vinicius Junior in midfield, driving into the box, and firing a clinical shot past Andriy Lunin, giving Atletico Madrid a 3-2 lead.
Real Madrid pushed for an equalizer, but Atletico Madrid’s defense held firm. In the 119th minute, Rodrigo Riquelme put the icing on the cake with a tidy finish, securing a 4-2 victory for Atletico Madrid and sending them through to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
Simeone and Vinicius Exchange Heated Words
The match was not without its controversies. After the final whistle, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior exchanged heated words, with Simeone seemingly upset about Vinicius’ celebration after Joselu’s equalizer. Vinicius was also involved in a spat with one of the ball boys at the Metropolitano.
Ancelotti Reflects on the Defeat
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the competitive nature of the match and defended Vinicius’ actions. He noted that Vinicius was involved in many duels and that it is understandable to lose one’s cool in such a high-intensity game.
Atletico Madrid Advance to the Quarterfinals
With the victory, Atletico Madrid joined Barcelona, Girona, Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao, and Sevilla in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal draw. The quarterfinal matches are scheduled to take place on February 1 and 2, 2024.
Additional Information
- The match was officiated by Alejandro Hernández Hernández, who issued eight yellow cards, four to each team.
- The attendance at the Metropolitano Stadium was 67,829, creating an electrifying atmosphere for the derby clash.
- Atletico Madrid’s victory extended their unbeaten run at home against Real Madrid to four matches in all competitions.
- Real Madrid’s 21-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end with this defeat.
Full Article:
Atletico Madrid 4-2 Real Madrid (AET)
Copa del Rey – Thursday, January 18, 2024
Goals:
Atletico Madrid: Samuel Lino (39′), Álvaro Morata (57′), Antoine Griezmann (100′), Rodrigo Riquelme (119′)
Real Madrid: Jan Oblak (OG) (45′), Joselu (82′)
Yellow Cards:
Atletico Madrid: Mario Hermoso (25′), Rodrigo De Paul (42′), Ángel Correa (65′), Stefan Savić (85′)
Real Madrid: Toni Kroos (30′), Eduardo Camavinga (48′), Federico Valverde (60′), Vinicius Junior (75′)
Red Cards:
None
Attendance:
67,829