Atletico grind out victory at Real Madrid
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ByEurosport
Updated 27/02/2016 at 18:18 GMT
Bernabéu, La Liga – Real Madrid 0 Atletico Madrid 1 (Griezmann, 53)
Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on February 27, 2016
Image credit: AFP
Antoine Griezmann scored the winner as Atletico Madrid beat city rivals Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabéu.
The result means Real Madrid are now nine points behind leaders Barcelona having played a game more while Atleti cement their spot in second five points shy of the Catalans.
Madrid could have taken a lead to the interval after a fairly even first half but Jan Oblak managed to parry Cristiano Ronaldo’s vicious free-kick.
The Portuguese star should have given the hosts the lead just after the interval but dragged his effort wide of the target.
Griezmann punished that profligacy moments later when he exchanged passed with Filipe Luís before slotting into the bottom corner of the net with 52 minutes gone.
Ronaldo then fired a header straight at Oblak with 68 minutes gone as Madrid amped up the pressure but Atleti held firm to claim the win.
It was yet another defensive masterclass from Diego Simeone's side who have now kept a clean sheet in eight of their last 10 matches. Diego Godin was particularly inspiring as he played a commanding role at centre-back.
The lacklustre performance from Real – who lose their first home game under boss Zinedine Zidane – greatly angered the home fans who appeared to be chanting for Florentino Perez's resignation in the second-half.
TALKING POINT
Real’s title hopes are over – It’s a near impossible task to catch Barcelona now. Luis Enrique’s side will almost certainly make it a 12-point gap over their fierce rivals when they host Sevilla on Sunday. Zinedine Zidane must ask his players to raise their performances for the next three league fixtures and they should really claim maximum points over Levante, Celta Vigo and Las Palmas – but it still won’t be enough. The best Real can hope for this season is success in the Champions League and even then - as we’ve seen in the past - it might not be enough to save the manager’s job.
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Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann (R) celebrates a goal with teammates during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on February 27, 2016
Image credit: AFP
MAN OF THE MATCH
Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid) – It was yet another wonderful display from the Uruguayan defender. Alongside partner Jose Gimenez, the pair reduced Real to largely half chances. He had Ronaldo in his back pocket for the majority of the contest.
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Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin in action
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Real Madrid: Navas 7; Carvajal 6, Varane 6, Ramos 6, Danilo 6; Modric 6, Kroos 6, Isco 5; Ronaldo 6, Benzema 5, James 5. Subs: Jese 5, Vasquez 6, Mayoral 6.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak 7; Juanfran 7, Godin 9, Gimenez 8, Luis 8; Gabi 7, Koke 7, Augusto; 7 Saul 7, Torres 6, Griezmann 8. Subs: Kranevitter 6, Correa 6.
KEY MOMENTS
16’ - CHANCE! Ronaldo's free-kick delivery is met by Varane whose flick just goes wide of goal. It's the first real opportunity of the game and the defender should maybe have done better.
25’ - HALF-CHANCE! Torres collects possession inside the home penalty area but Carvajal does well to get his body in front of the shot.
31’ - CHANCES! Real win a free-kick and, unsurprisingly, Ronaldo goes for goal but Oblak does well to parry the effort. The hosts come forward moments later as the ball is played to Benzema who screws a shot from close range wide.
39’ - FINE SAVE! Griezmann forces Navas into a fantastic one-handed save with a fine effort from just outside the area. That's more like it from Atletico's frontman.
48’ - SO CLOSE! How does Ronaldo not score? A rare mistake from Godin allows him a shot with the goal at his mercy but he somehow screws the shot wide.
53’ – GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Atletico Madrid - Griezmann has broken his goal drought and what a time to do it! Luis cuts the ball back to Griezmann in space in the penalty area and he makes no mistake by tucking the effort into the bottom corner.
68’ - CHANCE! It's not going to their day, is it? Ronaldo spurns another wonderful opportunity - he's unmarked in the penalty area but his header is straight at Oblak.
74’ - PENALTY SHOUT! But the referee is having none of it - Danilo falls under a challenge from Gabi but it would have been harsh and it's the right decision. Just over 15 minutes to play here.
87’ - CHANCE! Danilo goes close to grabbing a vital equaliser for the hosts - his shot goes just wide of the mark after Real had caught Atletico on the counter-attack.
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Atletico Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Simeone (L) gestures next to Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on February 27,
Image credit: AFP
KEY STATS
Atlético de Madrid are the first side in all La Liga history to win three times in a row at Bernabéu.
Antoine Griezmann has said goodbye to his longest run without a league goal this season (five games).
For the first time with Zidane in the bench, Real Madrid didn't scored in the first-half at Bernabéu in La Liga
Antoine Griezmann has said goodbye to his longest run without a league goal this season (five games).
For the first time with Zidane in the bench, Real Madrid didn't scored in the first-half at Bernabéu in La Liga
MATCH IN A TWEET
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