Atletico Madrid‘s Angel Correa secured an equaliser deep into added time against Real Madrid, resulting in a 1-1 draw on Sunday in a tense LaLiga derby that saw a suspension of just over 20 minutes due to objects being thrown onto the pitch by home fans.
The match was halted in the 69th minute, shortly after defender Eder Militao had given the visitors the lead. Atletico’s ultra group, Fondo Sur, threw objects at Real’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, prompting him to inform the referee.
Following a delay of over 20 minutes, play resumed and Atletico intensified their efforts. Substitute Correa managed to score from close range during a counter-attack in the fifth minute of added time to equalise.
Real Madrid are in second place with 18 points, three behind Barcelona and two ahead of third-placed Atletico after eight matches.
“These games are filled with tension and intensity,” Atletico captain Koke told DAZN in reference to the objects thrown onto the pitch.
The atmosphere was highly charged. Such incidents should not occur on the football field. As professionals, we must act wisely. However, it is unfair for a few to bear the consequences for the entire stadium.
With Kylian Mbappe sidelined due to a leg injury, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti decided to fortify the midfield by introducing Luka Modric, who is nearing 40 years old. This adjustment resulted in a more balanced team that dominated much of the match but struggled to convert their control into goals.
Real Madrid’s primary challenge this season has been adapting after the retirement of midfield genius Tony Kroos, who hung up his boots in July following his participation in Euro 2024 with Germany.
Given Modric’s advancing age and Jude Bellingham’s attacking role, Uruguayan Federico Valverde has taken on Kroos’s playmaking responsibilities in the heart of the midfield. Acting as a pivotal player, Valverde was central to almost all of Real’s threatening plays, either distributing to Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, or Bellingham or attempting powerful long-range shots himself.
Valverde nearly netted for Real three times in a first half where the home team’s defence offered few chances for counter-attacks.
Atletico came to life after the interval when manager Diego Simeone introduced Brazilian speedster Samuel Lino, who provided the energy they had missed earlier.
However, just as the hosts seemed more likely to score, Vinicius Jr sprinted past Rodrigo De Paul on the left wing and delivered a cross to the far post. There, an unmarked Militao controlled the ball and fired an unstoppable half-volley past goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
As Real’s players celebrated, dozens of lighters and bottles were thrown onto the pitch, prompting referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer to pause the match and send the players to the dressing rooms while the stadium announcer warned that continued misbehaviour would result in the game being abandoned.
Following the delay, play resumed with Atletico maintaining their pressure, though Real substitute Endrick nearly doubled the visitors’ lead with a late long-range effort that narrowly missed the post in the 89th minute.
Six minutes later, substitute Javi Galan threaded a pass through the heart of Real’s defence, allowing Correa to control the ball and sprint past Courtois before slotting it into the empty net, securing a point for Simeone’s team. Atletico concluded the game with 10 players after Marcos Llorente was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Fran Garcia.
