Kylian Mbappe’s second-half goal cancelled out Julian Alvarez’s first-half opener for Atletico Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday. Real led LaLiga with 50 points, one ahead of Atletico, who wasted a chance to catch them. Barcelona, third with 45 points, visit Sevilla on Sunday to reduce the title gap.
After Aurelien Tchouameni fouled Samuel Lino in the box, Alvarez scored a 35th-minute penalty to put Atletico ahead. Mbappe scored on a rebound in the 50th minute to equalise the game for Real. However, an imperious Jan Oblak produced many brilliant stops to deny their win attempt.
Atletico, led by Diego Simeone, had won 19 of their previous 21 games in all competitions and conceded 15 goals in 23 games, proving they have Europe’s strongest defensive. Despite losing Robin Le Normand to suspension, Simeone’s team was again sturdy at the back on Saturday, limiting Real’s excellent assault, who had no shots on target in the first half.
Lino and Alvarez were a continuous threat down the left channel, exposing Lucas Vazquez and Tchouameni, who started in a depleted Real defence without their top four defenders due to injuries. Atletico’s players demanded a straight red following Dani Ceballos’ studs-up assault on Pablo Barrios in the 25th minute. However, Cesar Soto Grado just awarded yellow.
Five minutes later, Atletico complained after Tchouameni left a foot in on Lino in a rapid counter-attack. The referee missed the foul until he reviewed the action in the VAR booth and pointed to the penalty spot.
Under thunderous boos from the sold-out Santiago Bernabeu crowd, Alvarez bravely chipped his penalty in the middle as Thibaut Courtois dove low.
Lino and Alvarez wasted good chances to give the visitors a bigger lead, and Real came back stronger after halftime with Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo shining in the channels. Rodrygo passed two opponents on the right wing and crossed to Jude Bellingham, who scored with his first touch from close range after five minutes. After Gimenez blocked the rebound, Kylian Mbappe scored.
Real Madrid pushed for the win, but Oblak saved from Vinicius, Rodrygo, Mbappe, Bellingham, and a crossbar shot to clinch Atletico’s draw.
