Atletico Madrid Thrashes Real Madrid 5-2 in Derby Showdown
The Madrid derby ended in a stunning 5-2 defeat for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, marking a significant moment in the La Liga season. Manager Xabi Alonso expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that the loss was deserved after what he described as “a bad game.” This result handed Alonso’s side their first defeat of the season, as they had previously secured six consecutive victories.
The match, held at the Metropolitano Stadium, witnessed a thrilling first half where both teams scored two goals before the break. Robin Le Normand opened the scoring for Atletico Madrid, followed by goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Güler for Real Madrid. Alexander Sørloth managed to level the match just before halftime, sending the teams into the locker room tied at 2-2.
Atletico took control in the second half, with Julián Álvarez netting a penalty and a free kick, pushing the home side ahead. Late in the game, substitute Antoine Griezmann sealed the victory with a fifth goal, leaving Real Madrid reeling.
Xabi Alonso Reflects on Defeat
In his post-match press conference, Alonso candidly admitted that his team did not perform at the necessary level. “We didn’t play well collectively, with or without the ball,” he stated. “We weren’t at the level we need to be at. This defeat hurts.” He emphasized the importance of learning from this experience, particularly as the team is still in a “construction phase.”
Alonso recognized that his squad lacked intensity and failed to compete effectively against their rivals. “We couldn’t impose ourselves in the duels,” he said. “You need to compete more at this level, against these opponents. We feel responsible, and now we’ll see what we have to correct.”
Despite Atletico’s strong performance, Real Madrid entered the match with an unblemished record in La Liga, while Atletico had struggled earlier in the season, accumulating just 12 points from seven matches. Alonso expressed his determination to address the team’s shortcomings in the wake of this defeat, stating, “There are tough days, that’s sport, that’s football. What’s important is how we react.”
Atletico Madrid’s Resurgence
For Atletico, this victory marked a crucial turnaround. Manager Diego Simeone praised his team’s ability to exploit Real Madrid’s weaknesses. “Madrid are one of the best teams in the world, no doubt,” he noted. “We interpreted the game well. Our fans will be happy.”
Simeone highlighted the impressive performance of Julián Álvarez, who has scored five goals in a week, including a hat trick against Rayo Vallecano earlier. “He’s very good,” Simeone said. “He works hard, he’s committed. We have to look after him.”
Álvarez expressed the significance of the derby victory, acknowledging the importance of securing three points. “It’s a derby and we needed the three points,” he remarked. “Earlier in the season, we weren’t getting the results, but we were playing well. Today we were more efficient.”
With this decisive win, Atletico Madrid appears to be finding their footing in the league, while Real Madrid faces critical challenges ahead as they regroup after this humbling loss.
