Madrid Derby Concludes in a Draw: Key Insights as Leading La Liga Teams, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Split Points
In a thrilling encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid played out a hard-fought draw in the latest instalment of the Spanish football rivalry.
With key defenders unavailable, Real Madrid's midfielder Tchouameni stepped up to partner Raul Asencio at the back, allowing Modric to take control in midfield. Meanwhile, Valverde moved to the right-back role, making way for Modric, while Camavinga replaced Ceballos at the base.
Despite Real Madrid's dominance, Atletico's defensive setup was impeccable in the first half, making it difficult for the attackers to break through. The stalemate was broken in the 5th minute when Rodrygo scored a rebounded goal, assisted by Bellingham. However, Atletico hit back just before half-time, Julian Alvarez converting a penalty, awarded after a foul by Tchouameni on the Atletico forward.
The second half saw a more open game, with Atletico becoming more dangerous with their counterattacking pace after Simeone's changes. Real, undeterred, continued to seek a winning goal, but the game ended with the points shared.
The draw means Real Madrid remain top of the La Liga table with 50 points, one point ahead of Atletico. Barcelona, in third, have a chance to close the gap, with a potential win against Sevilla on Sunday.
Atletico, who had only one player absent through suspension - defender Robin Le Normand - will have a week to prepare for their match at home against Celta Vigo. Real's attention will now fully turn to their Champions League play-off encounter with Manchester City, followed by a trip to Osasuna and the rematch against City at the Bernabeu.
In other news, Marcos Llorente, a former Real player, was on the right defensive flank for Atletico, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the tense encounter.
[1] La Liga Schedule for 2025–26 Season. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://www.laliga.com/en/news/la-liga-schedule-for-2025-26-season
[2] Real Madrid's Preseason Training Schedule. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/real-madrids-preseason-training-schedule
[3] Atletico Madrid's Preseason Training Schedule. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/en/news/atletico-madrids-preseason-training-schedule
[4] Real Madrid vs. Osasuna Match Preview. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/real-madrid-vs-osasuna-match-preview
[5] Atletico Madrid's Injury Report. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/en/news/atletico-madrids-injury-report
In the upcoming European leagues, Real Madrid's next challenge will be in LaLiga, as they aim to defend their position against fellow competitors. With Tchouameni stepping up to partner Raul Asencio at the back, they will be looking to exhibit their skills in football, especially against teams like Atletico Madrid. (La Liga Schedule for 2025–26 Season)
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will also have their sights set on European-leagues football, as they look to take advantage of every opportunity to climb up the LaLiga table. With key players like Marcos Llorente adding to their strength, they will be ready to face any challenges that come their way. (Atletico Madrid's Preseason Training Schedule)
