Atletico Madrid 4-2 Real Madrid: Madrid Derby gets lit-up as Griezmann heroics send Los Rojiblancos into the quarters of Copa del Rey

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid played out another thriller at Wanda Metropolitano, as Antoine Griezmann heroics at extra time sent Los Rojiblancos into the next stage of coveted Copa del Rey tournament. Youngster Riquelme and seasoned striker Alvaro Morata were on target as Atleti eked out perfect revenge for 3-5 defeat in the hands of their crosstown rivals at the semifinals of Spanish Super Cup.

Atletico Madrid ousts Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid- the Madrid Derby, which has often lived up to its hype since their rivalries stemmed decades ago, has once again produced a top notch game last night, this time, at the knockout stages of Spain’s coveted Copa del Rey. This game closely followed the last meeting them, as Real Madrid knocked out their crosstown rivals in the semifinals of Spanish Super Cup, eventually winning the tournament, defeating arch rivals FC Barcelona. Thus, it spanned out as one of the games where Atleti would look to inflict revenge upon their city rivals, and banking on their home support, they had the mental edge even before the game started.

With a mouthwatering clash on the cards for both sides, with a qualification into the quarter finals of Copa del Rey at stake, tacticians from both sides named their strongest eleven. Diego Simeone started with a midfield-heavy approach, comprising five-throng line-up having seasoned players in the form of Saul Niguez, Koke, De Paul, Lino and Llorente, as Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann spearheading the attack. Defensive duties were vested upon the veteran troika of Witsel, Gimenez and Hermoso, with Oblak under the goal.

As for Real Madrid, Ancelotti started with his traditional 4-3-1-2 formation of Vinicius and Rodrygo at the front, followed by their poster boy Jude Bellingham on their heels. Midfield had Valverde, the omnipresent Camavinga and seasoned Croat, Modric, with Rudiger, Nacho, Carvajal and Mendy forming the defensive guard, having Lunin between the sticks.

Lino draws first blood

With an initial pause at Wanda which included Griezmann’s presentation as the club’s leading goal scorer and a moment of silence for former Atleti defender Jorge Griffa, the game was set underway by the hosts. The game was well poised for a climactic set-up, with Atleti looking for vengeance and Real looking for another march towards defending their Copa del Rey title. After initial chances, it was on the 39th minute, that Atletico could get their sight on goal, as Lino blasted the first goal of the game.

With Real pressing hard for an opener, against the run of play, it was a Brazilian touch from Samuel Lino who got his name on the score sheet in a stylish manner. It could be said as a Brazil-Argentina connection, as De Paul’s hurling cross reached Rudiger, but the big German nudged the ball forward rather than swaying it away. Lino was present at the perfect place, ahead of Carvajal, thus finding the bottom right corner with a first-time finish, leaving little for Lunin to thwart it away.

As the game approached half-time, it was Oblak who got under scrutiny as his own goal led Real to equalize, minutes before half-time break. The Slovenian custodian, in attempt to thwart the ball away from a Modric free-kick, punched directly towards his mate Saul, unable to clear it, thus directing it backwards into his own net, bringing Real back on level terms.

Morata restores lead, Joselu scored again, and it goes to extra time

With 1-1 score line at half-time, and a high-octane game promising for a climactic finish, players from both teams came on the field, rejuvenated from a short break, to rekindle their rivalry once again. The score remained intact till 56 minutes, before Alvaro Morata decided to take matters in his own hands, thus restoring the lead.

It could have been labelled as a calamitous mistake from the Madrid defense, as Camavinga’s deflected ball reached a diving Lunin, who parried it to Rudiger, but with both Los Blancos men grounded, it was perhaps an easy chance for Morata to score from a tap-in, thus helping Rojiblancos grab the lead once again, with plenty to play for.

But, Joselu, Real Madrid’s undisputed sole striker, bagged an equalizer on the 82nd minute, just as the game chimed during the semifinal of Spanish Super Cup. The big Spaniard came off the bench to award the equalizer, as Bellingham deftly crossed the ball to him, who headed the ball into an unguarded goal, thus spicing up things nicely for another extra-time.

Griezmann optimizes his legacy

With the game proceeding to extra-time, it was seasoned Antoine Griezmann, the legend for Los Rojiblancos, decided to extend his legacy for the club, as he grabbed back the lead from Real, with the clock striking 100th minute.

Having made history by becoming the highest scorer last week, Griezmann inflicted further pain on their city rivals, as a tight squeeze from right side all-but sealed the deal for Simeone’s brigade. Isolating Vinicius along the flanks, Griezmann pounced upon the wings, thus pacing across the sidelines, rifling past Lunin in the high corner, with the keeper unable to get a hand to it. If that had been the end of the game, Griezmann would have definitely been the hero of the game.

Atleti decided to kill the game from the start of the second half of extra-time, but Riquelme, the attacker sprang upon another surprise, with Depay alongside him, as they went two-on-one against Tchouameni. The 23-year old Riquelme, after offering an overlap, received a swift pass from the Dutchman, thus putting the final nail in the coffin, by scoring in the far corner. With this goal, Atleti won the revenge battle against their city rivals, therefore proceeding to the quarter finals.