As extra time wound down, Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid scored the equaliser to tie the game 1-1 against Real Madrid on Sunday. It was a tense La Liga match that was stopped for just over 20 minutes because home fans threw objects onto the field.
Game Interrupted After Objects Thrown
Five minutes after defender Eder Militao opened the scoring for the visitors, the referee paused the game in the 69th minute when Atletico Ultras Fondo Sur threw objects at Real’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who alerted the official.
Following a delay of more than twenty minutes, the players returned to the pitch. Atletico heaped up the pressure before leveling the scores when replacement Correa drove the ball in from close range following a counterattack in the fifth minute of additional time.
League Standings After the Derby
With 18 points, Real ranks second in the standings, three behind Barcelona and two ahead of Atletico in third after eight games.
Koke’s Reaction to the Tense Atmosphere
Atletico captain Koke told DAZN about the things being thrown onto the pitch: “These are matches with a lot of tension and intensity.”
It was a really tense situation. On a football pitch, this is not possible. As professional football players, we must possess intelligence. However, four people cannot pay for the stadium’s remaining costs.”
Ancelotti Tactical Changes
With star forward Kylian Mbappe sidelined by a leg injury, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti decided to add the near-40-year-old Luka Modric to strengthen the midfield.
As a result, a more balanced team dominated play for the majority of it but was unable to convert their superiority into goals.
Real Madrid Midfield Evolution
The main challenge for Real this season has been coming to terms with the retirement of master midfielder Tony Kroos, who retired in July after playing for Germany at Euro 2024 on home soil.
As Jude Bellingham transitioned to an attacking midfield role and Modric grew older, Federico Valverde of Uruguay stepped up to take over Kroos’s playmaking duties in the middle of the pitch.
Valverde Influence on the Game
Valverde was like a magnet for the ball, and almost all of Real’s dangerous moves went through him. He either passed the ball to Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, or Bellingham up front, or he took long shots with his right foot at goal.
In the first half, when the home team was on the defense and had few counterattacks, Valverde almost scored three times for Real.
After the interval, manager Diego Simeone brought on Brazilian jet-heeled winger Samuel Lino, who provided Atletico the energy they had been lacking in the first half. This made the team more lively.
Militao Puts Real Ahead
Nevertheless, Vinicius Jr. broke free from Rodrigo De Paul on the left flank and crossed to the far post. Militao, unmarked, pulled the ball down and launched an incredible half-volley past goalie Jan Oblak. This came just as the hosts appeared to be getting closer to scoring.
Match Stopped Due to Crowd Disruption
Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer stopped the game and told the players to head to the changing rooms as the stadium announcer threatened to cancel the game if the players’ celebration of their goal sent dozens of lighters and bottles flying onto the field.
After the break, the game continued, and Atletico maintained pressure even though Real substitute Endrick almost gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with a long-range effort during a move that went just past the post in the 89th minute.
Correa’s Equaliser in Stoppage Time
However, six minutes later, Correa ran past Courtois and tapped into the empty net to rescue a draw for Simeone’s team after replacement Javi Galan’s pass broke through Real Madrid’s defense.
After Marcos Llorente was sent off for a challenge from behind on Fran Garcia, Atletico ended the game with 10 men.
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