Real Madrid lacked speed in the first half, again missing Vinícius, who was once again escaping Llorente's marking without finding an imbalance down the middle. Real Madrid had already overcome the derby, Arbeloa got the better of Simeone after Pep Guardiola in a continuous reassertion, and remains alive in the fight. It was a matter of pride for Atlético. What the Madridistas couldn't run, the rojiblancos did to expose the rival's shortcomings. Thus, Marcos Llorente, the best on the pitch if he had to respond to Fede's physical display, missed a chance. Vinícius Junior's lack of effectiveness in the match with the worst average of his career, the Brazilian turned into efficiency with a brace that sustains Real Madrid's fight for La Liga, coming from behind against an Atlético de Madrid that paid dearly for two defensive errors and that, despite their lack of a need for qualification, flirted with a draw until the last breath (3-2), which they faced with superiority due to the expulsion of Uruguayan Fede Valverde. It was a final for Real Madrid. And the post, when Fede Valverde's imposing moment shone through with a long self-pass to get away from Hancko and a right-footed shot that the woodwork repelled. Nothing would alter the plan of an Atlético de Madrid calm in the first act, with lines close together, that barely conceded in defense and sought to be vertical with speed on the counter-attack. Real Madrid with ten men, with Mbappé and Bellingham on the pitch short of competitive rhythm, was forced to defend the victory in their area. It was a struggle. The inspired Argentine, repeating the goal he scored a week ago at the Metropolitano at the Bernabéu, struck again. A steal and a cross-shot in a run towards the net. The derby, one of belief and demand, was tinged white. It was the first goal conceded by Musso in La Liga since his arrival in Spain. With Diego Simeone, the option of relaxation in a derby at the Santiago Bernabéu is unthinkable, but his plan collapsed from two defensive errors from Hancko and Giménez. Simeone came out with his best team, with the caveat of not having Pubill or Barrios available, and with a clear idea: not to let the opponent run. Musso prevented it with a good save to a Carvajal shot, the big surprise of Arbeloa's eleven as he benched Trent. A soft shot from Güler and a header from Tchouaméni, which skimmed the post with his shot just before halftime. By then, Real Madrid was already losing, having lamented a crucial save from Giuliano after a tight corner from Güler that Vinícius hit twice, and the first blow from an Atlético that missed more offensive presence from a vanished Julián Álvarez, when he punished with surgical precision. With Carvajal out of position, Ruggeri burst down the left flank, found the genius of Giuliano inside the area, who with a backheel set up Lookman, whom Fede was not tracking and Carvajal arrived late to stop his finish against an overwhelmed Lunin. La Liga was slipping through Real Madrid's hands as they pulled on pride to close the first half and penned Atlético in their own half. Julián had warned with his first offensive appearance, when another distant shot from Nahuel drew a new trajectory to the corner. A new test appeared for a Real Madrid forced to paddle to stay in the fight for the big titles. The pressure of Vinícius's miss was too much. Referee Munuera Montero punished with a straight red card for a Fede kick at Baena, with pending accounts from the past. It was time to switch to Simeone's plan B, with Nico, Sorloth up front, and the risk of Nahuel Molina on Vinícius. With Griezmann's intelligent reading in the pass and a powerful low shot that Lunin saved as best he could in two touches, before Carvajal carried the opponent away, who asked for a penalty after a heavy blow to the head in his fall. The derby had a high rhythm until fatigue set in due to few changes in two teams with European wear. It was then, with Mbappé on the pitch, that Vinícius's revenge came in a match that had been stuck for him. He quickly slotted in the second, when Giménez turned a ball into a gift that he should have cleared with force. He had 45 minutes to prevent Barcelona's sentence and it took him three to turn the match around. Once again, his message clashes with reality. With only one goal until the derby in which he was the great protagonist with his brace, taking advantage of Llorente's absence in marking, to burst in forcefully from the flank inwards and unleash a good shot that Baena couldn't stop in the help. Now, the derby seemed sentenced, but again an action brought uncertainty until the final whistle. He took responsibility, deceived with his body and struck with power. Arbeloa surprised by renouncing Mbappé from the start. It could have been a reward for those who stepped up in his absence and signed victories in adversity. The determination the match demanded he showed in a Madrid start without reward. It was beauty.
