Marcos Llorente headed house within the 93rd minute to grab Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw at La Liga leaders and bitter rivals Actual Madrid on Sunday.
The Spain midfielder rescued a degree to maintain Atletico’s faint title hopes alive and cease Los Blancos opening up a wider lead on second-placed Girona.
Brahim Diaz, who changed the harm Vinicius Junior simply earlier than the sport, opened the scoring for Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu.
Llorente’s leveller means Madrid are two factors away from Girona, who drew in opposition to Actual Sociedad on Saturday, and 10 factors above Atletico in fourth.
Catalan minnows Girona go to Actual Madrid subsequent weekend in a title showdown made even juicier by Llorente’s very important contribution.
“The staff must be calm, we’re leaders with a two-point benefit,” stated Actual Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“Now we have one other likelihood to make an announcement win subsequent Saturday.”
Llorente was completely happy to grab his staff a draw and above all, deny Madrid victory.
“We labored so onerous throughout the entire sport and on the finish took this prize, a degree, and stopped them from getting extra, only one,” Llorente advised Movistar.
“It doesn’t really feel like a win, as we don’t get three factors, however for the way the sport was, and the state of affairs, we take a really valiant level from right here.”
This was the third of three hotly-competed Madrid derby clashes in below a month.
Actual Madrid gained the primary, beating Atletico on the way in which to successful the Spanish Tremendous Cup, whereas Diego Simeone’s aspect ousted Los Blancos from the Copa del Rey per week later.
Atletico additionally beat Actual in La Liga in September and are the one staff to beat them this season in any competitors, however couldn’t full their hat-trick.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti pulled Vinicius out of the beginning line-up after he suffered neck discomfort earlier than the sport and deployed Diaz in his stead.
Actual Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder #15 Federico Valverde is challenged by Atletico Madrid’s Spanish defender #22 Mario Hermoso through the Spanish league soccer match between Actual Madrid CF and Membership Atletico de Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on February 4, 2024. (Picture by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
“After the warm-up (Vinicius) was not comfy,” stated Ancelotti.
“The 2 choices had been Brahim and Joselu, and Brahim allow us to hold the identical defensive system.”
The coach additionally lined up with full-back Dani Carvajal within the centre of defence as Antonio Rudiger was not match to begin and each Eder Militao and David Alaba are injured.
Former Manchester Metropolis playmaker Diaz struck within the twentieth minute after Atletico’s defence didn’t clear.
‘I’m at all times prepared’
Diaz has confirmed a dependable possibility for Ancelotti to show to this season throughout Vinicius’ earlier spells out injured and he notched his fourth objective of the league marketing campaign.
“Vini had somewhat downside, they advised me it was me beginning and I’m at all times prepared,” stated Diaz.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made an excellent save to disclaim Axel Witsel and Savic nodded narrowly over as Atletico hunted for the equaliser.
The Rojiblancos thought that they had it early within the second half when Savic headed Antoine Griezmann’s nook house however the objective was disallowed for a controversial offside.
In the intervening time Savic headed the ball, Saul Niguez was offside in entrance of Lunin.
Madrid’s high goalscorer Jude Bellingham appealed for a penalty on the different finish as he tangled with Savic however the referee waved his enchantment away.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a stable cease from Rodrygo on the close to submit, with Ancelotti throwing out an arm in frustration.
Diaz nutmegged Mario Hermoso brilliantly and bent a shot vast of the far submit moments earlier than he was changed by Joselu.
Madrid appeared to have closed the sport out however Atletico refused to provide in and eventually discovered the equaliser by means of Llorente.
It was the primary time Carvajal and centre-back associate Nacho Fernandez had put a foot mistaken, failing to react to Memphis Depay’s flick-on, and Llorente charged in to go previous Lunin.
“(Atletico) are taller they usually took benefit of that,” famous Ancelotti.
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