by There is a phrase in Spain: the second part was never good. Checks usually fail, they say, to the original, but this time it did. Like The Godfather Part II, the second episode of the Madrid Trilogy, the series of three derbies in three weeks and three different competitions, was even better than the first, however incredible it was to see. When these great rivals met six days ago, Real ended up winning 5-3 in eight goals, 120 minutes of fun; Now, on a wet night back in their supposed hometown, there were another 120 minutes, much wilder than those, six goals, and revenge. This time, Atlético Madrid hit back.
They were 1-0 and 2-1 ahead, through Samu Lino and Antoine Griezmann. Twice Atlético led and twice they found Real Madrid, the enemy that refuses to die, coming back at them, all those fears and that trauma returning. Jan Oblak’s own goal and Joselu’s diving header meant the derby went to extra time again: that’s eight now, every final or final these teams have played in the Diego Simeone era. Then, a glorious hundredth minute goal from Griezmann, who ran past Vinícius and smashed the ball over Andriy Lunin, made it 3-2, running away with his shirt.
Related: Real Madrid beat Atlético 5-3 in Saudi Arabia to reach Spanish Super Cup final
Still no one knew how this would end. Still against Atlético, still came Madrid. They even had the ball in the net again, through Dani Ceballos, but Jude Bellingham was adjudged offside. And then when most of those watching could take it no more, with seconds left and the tension building for everyone, Rodrigo Riquelme escaped to curl in the winner, just in the middle night.
The explosion shook this place, and then in the final scene, Diego Simeone was dressed in black and soaked running down the touchline through the rain to celebrate more than the passage into the next round of the Copa del Rey. This had something to do with the exorcism about him; it was a classic. Right match for right competition.
Maybe it wasn’t as entertaining, as open as the Super Cup, but this was more edgy, more realistic, more meaningful. And, ultimately, much better. A little more blood and a lot more noise. In Saudi Arabia it was “cold,” said Madrid striker Joselu; in front of 70,000 fans, this was not. It was much more important, a night of tension, drama. And tons of talent.
Especially from Bellingham, absolutely superb, who almost opened the scoring with a superb minute after 10 minutes. Somehow he got away from Koke, slipped inside Axel Witsel, evaded Rodrygo De Paul and, near the six-yard box, took aim. Diving in, José Maria Giménez got enough contact on him to send the ball spinning up and off the bar.
Five minutes later Oblak made an exceptional double save, when Atlético were caught in a deep free-kick and Vinícius Koke so easily spun to run through. The move slowed but Madrid kept the ball, worked back to the Brazilian and cut a beautiful ball behind the defense to Rodrygo. Near the penalty spot, Rodrygo controlled, turned and shot. Oblak somehow reached it with his right hand and was up in a flash to close Vinícius, swooping for the rebound.
Atlético wanted the ball, they wanted to play deep and they took the game to Madrid, or tried to. Alvaro Morata’s overhead kick and De Paul’s header were easily saved by Lunin. Madrid didn’t seem content to run: there was a clarity and purpose about them when they went forward, which became more frequent as the half progressed. Rodrygo in particular was a problem for the home team.
It was then, however, that Atlético scored. Rodrigo de Paul deflected a pass aimed at Morata, but Antonio Rüdiger was first to find it. He looped the ball up his head and, sliding in at the far post, Lino headed past Lunin. The game got crazy. Bellingham knocked over Lino and picked him up again, sure nothing was wrong, as the odds escalated. So was the dirt, and one of them gave the equaliser, a funny moment just at half time. Modric’s free-kick fell long into the six-yard box, where Oblak came to catch and deflect the ball back off his gloves and into his own net.
The second half started with Rodrygo hitting the side-netting and some great footwork from Bellingham: flashing past three men inside the area, he almost set up Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga. But it was Atlético who took the lead with a goal almost as silly as the one Madrid scored. Marcos Llorente appeared to try to turn the ball into the path of Griezmann, but he beat Camavinga and was the perfect “assistant” sliding and spinning all the way around the area. From almost the same spot Oblak had occupied, Lunin misjudged him, leaving Alvaro Morata to slot it into an open net.
How Madrid fought back. Brahim did well on the right to pull back for Rodrygo, inside the area. His shot, detached, came back off the bar. Atlético were on the brink more than ever: all the pain of the past, all those times Madrid hurt them, their hearts broken and hope ripped from their hands, clinging to them. Atlético could end it, which made it worse and made Madrid’s comeback even more predictable. A clever angled pass from Lino almost gave Griezmann the third, Llorente broke away but failed to get past Lunin to the team waiting free behind him, and Morata had a clear chance to end it but save the keeper, a hero awaits.
Then the inevitable happened. Bellingham at his disposal, with a superbly weighted ball to the far post; diving in for a header, Joselu scored the equalizer with his first touch. This was going to extra time, of course, another 30 minutes with the epic.
This time, it was Griezmann’s time, Atlético’s moment, a classic that ended as Episode II reached The end.
