Solid victory of the Whites with goals by Raúl and Van Nistelrooy
Atletico Madrid 0-2 Real Madrid
January 20, 2008 -Schuster's men started the second part of the championship with a victory that's worth more than three points against the eternal foe. Raúl scored his eleventh goal against Atletico and Van Nistelrooy netted the team's second. Pepe couldn't finish the encounter due to injury. This was Real Madrid's tenth consecutive victory in a derby.
There are no favourites in a derby. It doesn't matter who has more points, more injured players or generally plays better. The only thing people can be certain of in an Atletico-Real Madrid fixture is of seeing spectacle when the cordial atmosphere in the days prior to the match turns to fierce rivalry when the referee blows the whistle.
The 141st Madrid derby between both teams was marked by several absences on both sides. After focusing all week on recovering several men from their injuries, Bernd Schuster was forced to make changes in the line-up. Pepe was a doubtful choice throughout the week, but he made the starting eleven tonight, being paired with Cannavaro as centre back. Torres and Ramos assumed full back duties. The most striking difference in the line-up was the return of Guti, who hadn't been a starter since November, having been replaced by Julio Baptista.
Raúl again
Every scheme for the game both sides had prepared for was useless after less than a minute; just over thirty seconds into the game, Robinho dribbled past Atletico's defenders and crossed the ball into the box from the goal-line for Raúl to score his eleventh strike against the locals. A simple play tipped the scales on Real Madrid's side in just a few seconds. Nevertheless, Real Madrid suffered a blow when 14 minutes later Pepe was forced to leave the pitch. Míchel Salgado was brought on to take the right wing and Ramos moved into centre back position to replace the Portuguese national.
Atletico had to recover from the harsh blow of conceding an early goal and looked to draw the match, but Real Madrid were always reaching Abbiati's goal with danger. Raúl fought for a ball with Pablo and won it, later to be crossed into the box by Robinho from the right wing for Van Nistelrooy to head and miss by inches (19'). Atletico then woke up and began to prove to be dangerous close to Casillas' goal. A mistake by Gago in midfield allowed them to create a dangerous play that finished with a powerful shot by Forlán that was brilliantly saved by Casillas on the 25-minute mark. The locals grew consistent and, in the 30th minute, Raúl García sent the ball to Casillas' crossbar.
Van Nistelrooy: goal 2
Atletico kept trying. Agüero put the Whites' keeper to the test with a low shot, but it was saved (36'). Two minutes later he had yet another chance, but the ball hit the crossbar again.
Wesley Sneijder then crossed the ball into Atletico's box, aiming for Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was waiting for the ball next to the right post. The latter scored, allowing his team to win 2-0 by half-time.
Atletico created considerable danger at the start of the second half, but Real Madrid had the first clear chance; Sneijder controlled a lose ball and shot at Abbiati's goal after a great sprint, but the keeper grabbed the ball (50').
Both sides had several chances. Real Madrid mainly focused on counterattacking or controlling the ball well in straightforawrd attacks, having fun at all times. With a solid defence led by Cannavaro and Sergio Ramos they kept Atletico's onslaughts in check. Robinho had a great chance of scoring the Whites' third, but he sent the ball to Abbiati's hands after trying to score from a missed shot by Van Nistelrooy (80').
The final minutes saw both keepers save some chances. Atletico suffered from Raúl's early goal throughout the encounter. Real Madrid were solid in defence and attack, maintaining their seven-point lead on the runners-up and increasing their lead on Atletico by three points.
MATCH REPORT:
0- Atletico Madrid: Abbiati; Perea, Pablo, Eller, Antonio López; Maxi Rodríguez (Cléber Santana, 78’), Motta (Luis García, 69’), Raúl García, Simao (Reyes, 35’); Agüero & Forlán.
2- Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe (Salgado, 14’), Cannavaro, Torres; Sneijder, Gago, Guti (Baptista, 75’), Robinho (Drenthe, 86’); Raúl & Van Nistelrooy.
REFEREE: Muñiz Fernández. Booked Antonio López (4’), Pablo (34’), Motta (62’), Perea (68’), Miguel Torres (20’), Ramos (63’), Guti (73’) and Míchel Salgado (78’).
GOALS:
0-1, min.1: Raúl.
0-2, min.40: Van Nistelrooy.
NOTES: Matchday 20 of the Spanish League. Venue: Vicente Calderón Stadium. Esperanza Aguirre, President of the Autonomous Government of Madrid, attended the match.
Match report by Arancha Díaz
Photography by David R. Anchuelo & Fernando Comeche
Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell
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