A Thrilling Derby Decider: Atletico Madrid Triumphs Over Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey Quarterfinal Clash

On a chilly Thursday night in January 2024, the city of Madrid witnessed a captivating Copa del Rey quarterfinal clash between two fierce rivals: Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. The highly anticipated derby match, played at the packed Metropolitano Stadium, lived up to its billing, delivering an enthralling spectacle of goals, drama, and intense competition.

A Tale of Two Halves

The opening half set the tone for a pulsating encounter, with both teams trading blows and displaying their attacking prowess. Atletico Madrid, playing with a high tempo and pressing intensity, drew first blood in the 39th minute. A swift counter-attack caught Real Madrid’s defense napping, and Samuel Lino capitalized on a miscommunication between Antonio Rüdiger and Andriy Lunin, tapping the ball into an empty net.

However, Real Madrid responded swiftly, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error from Jan Oblak just before the break. Luka Modric’s dangerous free-kick was poorly handled by Oblak, who inexplicably punched the ball into his own net, leveling the score at 1-1.

The second half continued in the same vein, with both teams creating chances and threatening each other’s goal. In the 57th minute, another defensive lapse by Real Madrid proved costly. Eduardo Camavinga’s wayward pass back to his own area caused confusion between Lunin and Rüdiger, allowing Álvaro Morata to pounce on the loose ball and slot it home, giving Atletico Madrid a 2-1 lead.

Real Madrid refused to surrender, and their persistence paid off in the 82nd minute. A clever counter-attack led by Jude Bellingham resulted in a pinpoint cross to Joselu, who headed the ball past Oblak to equalize once again. The match seemed destined for a penalty shootout, but Atletico Madrid had other ideas.

Griezmann’s Moment of Magic

In the 100th minute of extra time, Antoine Griezmann produced a moment of magic. The French forward dispossessed Vinicius Junior near the halfway line, surged forward with blistering pace, and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner, sending the Atletico Madrid fans into raptures.

Rodrigo Riquelme sealed the victory for Atletico Madrid in the 119th minute, tapping in a simple finish after a flowing team move. The goal sent the home crowd into a frenzy and effectively ended Real Madrid’s hopes of a comeback.

Simeone and Vinicius’ Heated Exchange

The match was also marked by some heated moments, particularly between Vinicius Junior and Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone. The Brazilian winger appeared to celebrate Joselu’s goal in front of Simeone, who reacted angrily. After the match, Simeone and Vinicius exchanged a few heated words, highlighting the intense rivalry between the two clubs.

Ancelotti’s Defense of Vinicius

Despite the disappointment of defeat, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the competitive nature of the match and defended Vinicius’ actions. He stated that Vinicius’ involvement in numerous duels and the high tempo of the game could have led to his emotional response.

The Road Ahead

With this victory, Atletico Madrid joined the likes of Barcelona, Girona, Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao, and Sevilla in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal draw. The next round of fixtures promises more thrilling encounters and the chance for these teams to continue their pursuit of the prestigious trophy.

Player Ratings

Atletico Madrid:

• Jan Oblak: 6/10 (Made a costly error for Real Madrid’s first goal, but made some good saves throughout the match)
• Nahuel Molina: 7/10 (Solid defensively and provided good width going forward)
• Stefan Savić: 7/10 (Strong in the air and made some crucial interceptions)
• José María Giménez: 7/10 (Another solid performance from the Uruguayan defender)
• Reinildo Mandava: 7/10 (Defended well and made some important tackles)
• Koke: 7/10 (Anchored the midfield and controlled the tempo of the game)
• Rodrigo De Paul: 7/10 (Energetic and creative in midfield)
• Samuel Lino: 8/10 (Scored the opening goal and was a constant threat on the left flank)
• Álvaro Morata: 7/10 (Scored a goal and was a handful for the Real Madrid defense)
• Antoine Griezmann: 8/10 (Scored a stunning goal in extra time and was a constant threat to Real Madrid’s defense)
• Rodrigo Riquelme: 7/10 (Came off the bench and scored the winning goal)

Real Madrid:

• Andriy Lunin: 5/10 (Made a mistake leading to Atletico Madrid’s second goal and could have done better for some of the other goals)
• Dani Carvajal: 6/10 (Had a tough time dealing with Lino and was caught out of position at times)
• Antonio Rüdiger: 4/10 (Made a costly error leading to Atletico Madrid’s first goal and struggled to deal with Morata and Griezmann)
• David Alaba: 6/10 (Solid defensively but struggled to contain Atletico Madrid’s attack)
• Ferland Mendy: 6/10 (Provided good width going forward but was sometimes caught out defensively)
• Toni Kroos: 6/10 (Controlled the midfield well but lacked creativity in the final third)
• Eduardo Camavinga: 5/10 (Made a poor pass leading to Atletico Madrid’s third goal and was often overrun in midfield)
• Luka Modric: 7/10 (Scored a goal from a free-kick and created several chances)
• Jude Bellingham: 7/10 (Provided a constant attacking threat and assisted Joselu’s goal)
• Karim Benzema: 6/10 (Had a few chances but was well-marshalled by Atletico Madrid’s defense)
• Vinicius Junior: 6/10 (Was a constant threat on the left flank but lacked composure in the final third)

Conclusion

The Copa del Rey quarterfinal clash between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid lived up to its billing, delivering an enthralling spectacle of goals, drama, and intense competition. Atletico Madrid ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to goals from Lino, Morata, Griezmann, and Riquelme. Real Madrid’s unbeaten run came to an end, but they will have the chance to bounce back in their upcoming matches.