Real Madrid kept up their impressive form under head coach Santiago Solari as goals from Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and substitute Gareth Bale earned a 3-1 derby win at 10-man Atletico, usurping their city rivals into second place in La Liga.
Brazil holding midfielder Casemiro delivered a 16th-minute scissor kick at a hostile Wanda Metropolitano, before France forward Antoine Griezmann soon burst past the offside trap – according to the video-assistant referee – and nutmegged hate figure Thibaut Courtois.
A stellar response then followed to earn a fifth-successive La Liga win and make it just the second time Atleti had conceded three or more at their new home. The electric Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior was felled by Uruguay centre-back Jose Gimenez and Ramos did the business with a penalty kick on 43 minutes.
Into the second half, Wales superstar Gareth Bale came off the substitutes’ bench and fired in a punishingly accurate low finish to move onto 100 goals for Los Blancos on 74 minutes. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was then dismissed for a second yellow card to complete Atleti’s misery.
ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2)
Jan Oblak – 5: Slovenia goalkeeper may feel he could have reacted quicker for Casemiro opener. Blameless for other goals.
Santiago Arias – 5: Colombia right-back will not want to revisit this display again. Left in shadows by Vinicius and Bale.
Jose Gimenez– 5: VAR could not save the Uruguayan when his lunge on Vinicius was punished. Later forced Courtois into an athletic stop.
Diego Godin – 6: Marginally better performance than his younger compatriot. Failed to keep a lid on Benzema. Not at his best.
Lucas Hernandez – 6: World Cup winner kept Vazquez deathly quiet, bar one poor shot. Flung in joint-team high three crosses.
Angel Correa – 7: Foul/tackle on Vinicius and wonderful pass teed up Griezmann for fine leveller. The Argentina winger was Atleti’s best attacker.
Thomas Partey – 4: Ghanaian lost his head in the final throes, after losing the midfield battle. A bad display in a great season.
Saul Niguez – 5: Spain midfielder needed to use his physicality and technique to killer effect. But failed to influence proceedings.
Thomas Lemar – 5: Had 100-per-cent pass accuracy, but still managed to do absolutely nothing with the ball. Poor.
Alvaro Morata – 6: Curious display on home bow. Denied deft chip by offside flag and booked for a dive. Lacked conviction.
Antoine Griezmann – 6: Searing pace and cheeky finish earned an eighth derby goal in 28 matches. But did little else and ended game on wing.
2 - No away player won more times at @Metropolitano than @thibautcourtois, 2, one for @ChelseaFC and one for @realmadriden. Periapt. pic.twitter.com/jArc8PB4iv
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 9, 2019
SUBSTITUTES
Vitolo – 5: Continues to be an expensive mistake for Los Rojiblancos.
Rodrigo – 5: Was meant to shore up Atleti, but they conceded another goal with him on pitch.
Nikola Kalinic – 5: That’s now just one goal in his last seven run-outs.
