If you like organised defences, then that was the game for you, if you’re more of a pure football person, then you won’t have enjoyed the 90 minutes played out in Madrid there. Cristiano Ronaldo looked a shadow of his former self as he struggled to influence a game dominated by the likes of Godin and Savic.
Thanks for joining me on what was a pretty tedious Saturday night. Let’s hope for more excitement in the future.
Full-time: Atlético Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid
It wasn’t a classic as there were few clearcut chances on the night at the Wanda Metropolitano, with the Atletico Madrid defence the real winners in a very tight game. The hosts had the better chances, but there wasn’t much to shout about in what was rightly a goalless draw.
90+1 min: Ronaldo tries to send Carvajal away but Savic sees what is happening in front of him and gets to the ball first to clear for a throw-in.
90 min: Atletico Madrid love clearning crosses, which is useful as that’s all their defence has done all day. Two minutes added on by the referee here.
89 min: Atletico have four on three but Carrasco does far too much with the ball and is tackled, much to the chagrin of his team-mates. The Real break up the other end, resulting in Marcelo playing in Ronaldo who can’t get his shot away quick enough, allowing Lucas to get across and block it. Godin was booked in the aftermath.
87 min: Isco sends in a corner but Oblak reads it and comes to collect it with ease. Can anyone find a winner in the final few minutes?!
86 min: Gabi tries to send Torres through on goal but his pass is overhit and cruises into the arms of Casilla, who has had little to do. Down the other end Kroos hits a fierce shot which Oblak can’t hold and needs to rely on the quick-thinking Godin to clear.
84 min: Marcelo gets a cross in for the 4683803rd time today and it is cleared for the 4683803rd time today. Ronaldo then does the same on the other side. The result is a corner.
83 min: A corner is played into the front post where Ronaldo tries to flick it home, but his effort is blocked and his rebound is hit straight at Godin.
82 min: A number of people fall over in the box, with the consequence being Nacho and Lucas picking up bookings.
81 min: The resulting Ronaldo free-kick is struck across Oblak who sees it all the way and is able to palm it a long way from goal.
81 min: Juanfran, who has already been booked, is lucky to still be on the pitch after he loses the ball and makes up for it by pulling back Marcelo who was getting to the stray ball quicker.
78 min: Off the line from Varane after subs Torres and Gameiro link up to create a chance, as the Spaniard plays the Frenchman through but his chip over the goalkeeper is headed away by a retreating Varane.
78 min: Juanfran gets his name taken by the referee after bringing down Isco from behind, leaving the official with no choice.
76 min: Subs galore! Torres and Gameiro are on for Griezmann and Correa, while Real bring on Asensio for Benzema, who has been anonymous.
75 min: Ronaldo gives up a reminder that he’s on the pitch but he can’t do anything when he gets the ball 20 yards from goal, but he snatches the ball and sends it wide.
75 min: Kroos runs onto the ball on the edge of the area, it looks like the German is about to thwack one at goal, but he instead takes two touches and chips it onto the roof of the net.
74 min: It’s quite surprising how limited the quality has been in this game. The Atletico defence is a joy to behold, but overall there’s not much to write home about in his nervous encounter.
72 min: Lucas who has already ended Ramos’s game by kicking him in the face, takes a a second victim by getting his studs right on Carvajal’s foot, but the defender is fit enough to continue.
70 min: Koke is now booked by ending a Real attack before it starts by clearing out a leaping Modric by kicking him in the shin.
70 min: Atletico earn themselves a corner and Koke tries to send one over Varane, but he beats Griezmann in the air to flick the ball away for a corner.
68 min: Benzema has been absent for the majority of this game and he isn’t getting much better. The Frenchman is really struggling to read the tempo of his game and what his team-mates are planning to do.
66 min: Varane is on the deck after hitting the turf hard following a clash with his own goalkeeper, but the defender is now up, which is a relief for all.
65 min: It’s definitely more of a contest this half, rather the opening 45 minutes which was just a case of attacking versus defence, but it is lacking some individual quality in the final third. Surely there’s someone good enough to unlock defences on this pitch.
Our man in Madrid points out...
One of things that has struck me this evening: Atletico don't have a striker.
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) November 18, 2017
63 min: Saul is cautioned for rugby tackling Modric as he tries to take the ball upfield. Not the smartest moving from the Spaniard.
63 min: Atletico get themselves into a good possession on the edge of the area, but Correa’s cross flashes across the box, but there’s no one there to turn it in.
61 min: Isco tries to claim a free-kick 20 yards from goal after he is caught by Gabi, but once again the referee waves it away, much to the Real man’s annoyance.
GERRY ARMSTRONG HAS SHOEHORNED IN A NORTHERN IRELAND PENALTY REFERENCE.
60 min: Atletico are looking more adventurous since the introduction of Carrasco from Simeone, but they’re not moving the ball quick enough.
58 min: Real Madrid are still using the ploy of switching the play regularly. It almost pays off as Isco works the ball out to Marcelo, whose cross seems to hit a hand but the appeals are ignored by the referee.
56 min: Saul gets himself involved in the game after he snatches at a shot from 20 yards but his effort is quite wayward and ends up a few rows back with the fans.
55 min: Godin gets lucky after he blocks off Carvajal and tries to hold off the Real full-back, as the referee gives the Uruguayan a free-kick after Carvajal gets beyond him.
54 min: Sub! Atletico have a plan to to make this a bit more interesting, so are bringing on Yannick Carrasco to add some attacking intent. Interestingly, Partey has been withdrawn for the Belgian.
53 min: Casemiro and Gabi are both on the floor after a clash, but it was the Atletico captain who fouled his opponent.
51 min: If you like defensive blocks then this is the game for you. Whatever Real do, there always seems to be a man in red and white inches away ready to block any pass, cross or shot the visitors can muster.
50 min: Real Madrid slow build up playing the ball from side to side as they stretch the home defence but it only results in a throw-in deep in the corner after Carvajal’s cross is flicked away.
48 min: Atletico perform two blocks in a matter of seconds as first Carvajal pulls the ball back for Ronaldo to smash into a defender and then Modric takes the rebound and does exactly the same. Atletico love some last-ditch defending.
Updated
47 min: Kroos dinks a ball over the top for Ronaldo but the forward shins the ball straight to the goalkeeper in a manner similar to Shaun Goater.
Second-half: Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeep! Here we go again! Will the game continue to be absorbing?
Sub! Nacho has replaced Ramos after his skipper was kicked in the face during the first-half!
The players have arrived in the tunnel as they try to source a plan to score a goal. Looks like Nacho will be on for Real. Has Ramos’s nose finished him off?
Felix states: “Surely that kick to the face was a foul and thus a penalty“Surely that kick to the face was a foul and thus a penalty.”
Sorry Felix, it really wasn’t. There can’t be a shortage of people who want to kick Ramos in the face and that was a blow for those from Lucas.
Updated
John has tweeted in: “If there’s any night 4 Real to bounce back 2 their best it’s 2nite in “A Stadium Called Wanda” but the way Diego S has his side drilled is just like he was as a player tidy, hard & a tad dirty. The fat lady is warming up & RM will hear her unless they get the lead out.”
I am personally working on my own “A fishbowl named Wanda” pun. Stay tuned.
Half-time: Atlético Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid:
We end the half goalless after some committed defending from Atletico and a distinct lack of guile from Real Madrid. Correa should have opened the scoring early on but he fluffed his lines with the pressure on. It will get better in the second-half, I am sure.
45+1 min: As we enter the two minutes of added time, Atletico break up another Real Madrid attack (this was copied and pasted). Atletico are really frustrating Real here but they aren’t looking dangerous themselves.
45 min: Atletico are very good at what they do, but they are almost undone as Isco plays in Marcelo on the overlap but his cross is cleared after some misunderstanding on the edge of the six-yard box.
The truth is less interesting, as Nigel confirms.
“No, it was flashed up in the corner of LaLigatv.”
42 min: Atletico make a rare foray down the other end but Correa’s cross is blocked out for a corner. The set-piece is whipped in by Koke but it comes to nothing, he gets the ball back, though, and earns another corner.
41 min: Isco glides past two on the left-wing and then puts in a cross but it is once again blocked. Real Madrd are getting time and space on the flanks but it doesn’t look like they’ll scare Atletico with a cross.
39 min: Ramos has changed his shirt and is back on the pitch with two pieces of tissue up his nostrils, which is a sight. Breathe through your mouth, Sergio.
38 min: While Ramos is being treated down the other end, Atletico set out on the attack in attempt to take advantage of the extra man, instead Real break up the attack counter on the hosts, earning a corner as Ronaldo’s cross is cleared.
Use the lull in action to send in your views on the world for me to add to this.
36 min: Ramos is on the ground with blood on his nose after he heads the ball wide at the back post. Looks like takes Lucas’s full boot to the face. He is not getting up. It was a proper whack in the noggin’ for the Real defender. No wonder he’s not happy.
35 min: Ronaldo takes on the resultant free-kick and smashes a low shot which bounces just in front of Oblak who gets down quickly to his left and palm the ball away for a corner.
34 min: Atletico are not getting the chances to break they rely on to do damage, instead they’re having to absorb plenty of pressure from their rivals, but they’re used to that. Their desire to stop Real is proven by a terrible lunge from ex-Manchester City defender Savic on Kroos 35 yards from goal.
32 min: Kross and Ronaldo perform a one-two on the edge of the area, as the Kross gets beyond the home defence, but his little chip over the ‘keeper goes just wide. The German complains he was fouled but the referee is having none of it.
31 min: Real Madrid are looking to drag the Atletico defence around a bit by trying to change the direction of play repeatedly, this time allowing Marcelo to get in behind and pull a cross back, but as usual there’s a home defender their to nullify the attack.
28 min: There are a few snide fouls going on, as one would expect in a game like this, the latest being Correa just needlessly pushing Marcelo over for absolutely no reason other than to amuse the home fans.
27 min: Atletico Madrid are at their organised best today; they’re allowing Real Madrid a lot of the ball but they can’t find a way through, forcing them to just chuck in an aimless cross which earns a corner.
25 min: A throw-in is cleared by Real Madrid but the ball lands on the right foot of Gabi on the edge of the area but he can only volley it well wide of the goal as he doesn’t make a clean connection.
Updated
23 min: Correa picks up a loose ball and goes past a couple of defenders, before almost running into Griezmann, he eventually gets to the byline and earns his side a corner.
Nigel has been on to explain how fast footballers are...
“Hi Will, In that recent run: Ronaldo 32.8 km/h; Juanfran 33.8 km/h.”
Do you have a special machine Nige or are you doing it by eye?
Feel free to send your comments in, too. The details are at the top.
20 min: The first yellow card of the game goes to Carvajal with a late challenge on Lucas, who once again goes down in agony. It wasn’t a great challenge, to be fair, but Lucas made the most of it.
19 min: Benzema has the ball kicked into his face by Correa while the Frenchman is lying on the ground. The first proper bit of cowardice of the game sees the players gather round the referee but there’s no worse action than a free-kick given.
18 min: Juanfran is in the game once again as he curls in a cross from deep for Griezmann but Varane gets to the ball first and sends the ball behind. The referee gives a goal-kick, resulting in plenty of protestations from Atletico.
16 min: Real Madrid break from an Atletico corner as the ball is sent down the middle for Ronaldo to chase but Juanfran reads it and sprints as hard as he can to beat the Portuguese to it and get an ovation from the crowd.
14 min: Isco has just performed one of the finest first touches of all-time to take down a powerful and somewhat wayward pass from Carvajal. Sadly his second touch was woeful.
12 min: Ronaldo reminds everyone that he’s on the pitch by doing a number of stepovers before laying the ball off to Isco, whose cross into the box is cleared by the defence, but the ball eventually heads out for a corner.
11 min: Lucas and Carvajal clash right in front of the assistant referee, leaving the home player writhing around the floor in agony. The replay shows there was no contact of note. Not the best from Lucas there, really.
9 min: Correa breaks through two defenders and looks like he might dribble his way into the box, but the thoughtful Casemeiro predicts where the Atletico man is going and stops his run around 20 yards from goal.
8 min: Ronaldo is yet to touch the ball, as far as I can remember, which might be key for the hosts tonight as they look to keep him out of the game, even if he isn’t doing the business this season.
6 min: Isco gets into the game for the first time after picking up the ball on the left-hand touchline but after a couple of jinks inside, he is crudely taken down by Partey, forcing the referee to call a foul.
3 min: Correa is the lucky recipient after a huge error in the Real Madrid defence, as Varane pokes a pass beyond his own team-mates, resulting in the ball dropping at the feet of the Atletico forward but with only the goalkeeper to beat he sends it wide from eight yards.
3 min: A couple of early fouls as Marcelo is taken down and then Juanfran is pushed over in the corner by Benzema. Not a barnstorming start.
2 min: Good to see Gerry Armstrong is back from his co-comms stint on the Northern Ireland play-off, which really pushed him to his limits.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! And the rest!! Here we go!
Jose Mourinho has won the battle of the former Real Madrid managers with Rafa Benítez at Old Trafford.
There’s a change of ends. Is this necessary? Is there a massively slope at the ground? Or is it just mind games? I thought this only happened in Sunday league games nowadays.
The players are out on the pitch. The atmosphere is certainly lively, as the home fans get the chants and boos going. The handshakes show the respect between the team sets of players, but the friendliness ends now.
Our man Sid Lowe is at the game in Madrid...his third of the day. THREE IN A DAY? You’ve got to admire the commitment. You find out about his day on Twitter, which Sid is obviously on.
Good to be using my degree in Hispanics for the only reason I bothered to do a four-year course: to watch Spanish football and be able to pronounce the names in a smug fashion. I warmed up for the task by texting someone in Spanish this afternoon. End of anecdote.
Air pollution is very high in Madrid at the moment and people have been told to avoid sustained physical exercise in the area the Wanda Metropolitano sits. Hopefully the game won’t be at testimonial pace then.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not having a great season by his standards, having only scored once in seven league games. He is the man for a big game, so he might be kind enough to show us all what he’s made of tonight.
Some in Spain have billed this as the battle of the No.7s, as Atlético’s main man is Antoine Griezmann, who will be hoping he can show he’s at Ronaldo’s level by getting one over on Real. Sadly, he isn’t in the best form either, only netting twice in the league this season, so it doesn’t bode well.
Neither team is tearing up the league as they would hope at this stage of the season - even Valencia are above them - so tonight might be a turning point in campaigns which have underwhelmed so far. Obviously, they’re both still in the top four, but they’re a long way off Barcelona currently.
History is against the hosts, it would seem...
1 - Atletico failed to win their first league derby against Real Madrid at both Vicente Calderon (2-2 in 1967) and at Metropolitano (0-3 in 1929). Premiere. pic.twitter.com/4VDBAYXXbk
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 18, 2017
Diego Simeone won’t be going to Everton, you’ll be surprised to hear. But he was still asked about his future prior to tonight’s game.
As I’ve said on various occasions, my future is tied to Atletico. They are going to have to put up with me for the next couple of years at least. I’m absolutely sure about that.
This is the first Madrid derby at Atlético’s new home. Will this be the game where Diego Simeone’s side really get the atmosphere going after a tough start?
Obviously you’re all welcome to sent in your questions, views, opinions and everything else under the sun to be place in this minute-by-minute.
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has spent this week denying there’s been a falling out between Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo.
These two players are part of the history of this club. They respect each other a lot and are both intelligent people. They are together a long time, won a lot together, maybe sometimes if they disagree over something it is not important.
Things are sorted inside, and there has been no problem between Cristiano and Sergio. It is good that players give their opinions, it shows they are alive.
Gareth Bale is currently injured, so won’t be appearing for Real Madrid tonight. Whether he’s playing his football in the Spanish capital for much longer is also up for debate, as Jamie Jackson reports.
Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid line-ups
Atlético Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Savic, Godin, Lucas Hernández, Koke, Gabi, Partey, Saúl Ñíguez, Griezmann, Correa
Subs: Moya, Filipe Luis, Giménez, Carrasco, Gaitan, Torres, Gameiro.
Real Madrid: Casilla, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Subs: Moha, Nacho, Theo Hernández, Lucas Vallejo, Asensio, Mayoral, Ceballos.
Preamble
Here you go.
