Atlético Madrid hammered Real Madrid Saturday, 4-0, keeping their hopes of defending their La Liga title alive. Tiago and Saúl scored four minutes apart early in the first half as Real Madrid never really got into the game, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale being largely invisible throughout the 90 minutes.
3 things we learned from Atlético Madrid’s 4-0 evisceration of Real Madrid
Los Colchoneros destroyed their rivals, getting the win they needed to stay in the title race.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
Los Colchoneros close the gap between themselves and the league leaders to four points, completely changing the look of the title race yet again. It’s the biggest victory for Atléti over their rivals since a 4-0 win at the Bernabéu in 1987. It’s also the first time in 22 games Los Blancos failed to score a goal.
Need more examples of just how dominating this performance was? Real Madrid had one shot on target. ONE!
Despite losing Koke to a hamstring injury in the opening 10 minutes, Atléti's early pressure was rewarded in the 14th minute when Tiago's blast from the top of the penalty area skipped off Iker Casillas' hands and over the line. It really was a ball that Iker should've saved, but Madrid will be disappointed that Tiago was allowed to make a late run into so much space just 20 yards from the goal.
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Less than four minutes later, Saúl, who’d replaced the injured Koke, scored a spectacular bicycle kick to double the home side’s lead, 2-0. Guillherme Siqueira did the heavy lifting to help create the chance, working down to the end line before lifting a short cross back in front of goal. Saúl was given far too much space and he scored a highlight reel goal that sent the Calderon faithful into hysterics.
Early in the second half Raúl García picked up a yellow card -- which wouldn’t be a big deal except for the fact he wasn’t in the match. He was on the sideline warming up.
Atléti had a run of chances midway through the second half to put the game away, but no one could get their shot on target. Antoine Griezmann tried to match Saúl with a bicycle kick of his own, but the shot went over the crossbar. Mario Mandžukić had a great chance disrupted by Dani Carvajal, and Tiago mishit a brilliant chance in front of Casillas.
But all the pressure was a sign that Madrid were breaking down. In the 67th minute Arda Turan sent the ball back across goal with a lovely header at the far post where Griezmann beat Raphael Varane, one touching the ball into the empty net to make it 3-0.
Fernando Torres helped put a cherry on top of the day, setting up Mandžukić in the 89th minute with a sublime cross to the big striker who hammered the ball past Casillas for the fourth and final goal.
Atlético Madrid: Moyá, Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Siqueira, Turan, Gabi, Tiago, Koke (Saúl 9’ (Raúl García 71’)), Mandžukić, Griezmann (Torres 77’)
Goals: Tiago (14’), Saúl (18’), Griezmann (67’), Mandžukić (89’)
Real Madrid: Casillas, Coentrão, Nacho, Varane, Carvajal, Isco (Illarramendi 68’), Kroos, Khedira (Jese 45’), Ronaldo, Benzema (Chicharito 73’), Bale
Goals: None.
3 things
1. Real Madrid's midfield is a mess. Losing Luka Modrić was a blow, but one that Carlo Ancelotti was able to work around thanks to James Rodriguez. Now with the Colombian sidelined for two months, things are not looking good. Sami Khedira just isn't good enough, and if a team can mark out Isco, it really limits what Los Blancos can do. It doesn't stop Madrid from being dangerous, but if you can overwhelm their midfield and disrupt their possession, it can take Ronaldo and Bale out of the match. If Madrid hold on to win the title, it'll be down to Ancelotti once again figuring out how to make his midfield work with important pieces missing.
1a. Finally, can we all agree that Toni Kroos is NOT a holding midfielder?
2. Marcelo is REALLY important to Real Madrid. The fullback couldn’t play on Saturday due to a card suspension and it showed. The Brazilian has really developed into an influential player in the Madrid attack, and without him on the pitch bombing forward, their width was compromised. It made Atléti’s defensive job on Bale much easier because there weren’t the dangerous overlapping runs coming down that wing. It may not have changed the result on the day, but it would’ve made Atléti’s task more difficult.
3. Antoine Griezmann is awesome. If you've watched La Liga regularly, you already knew this, but many didn't see a lot of the young Frenchman during his time with Real Sociedad. His switch to Atléti got many excited, but it took him some time to settle in, learn Diego Simeone's demanding system and gain the coach's trust. Now that he has, and he's starting regularly, he's beginning to show a broader audience what a fantastic young player he is. For a team known for creating stars and cashing in on them after a few seasons, Griezmann might be the next candidate for that role.
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