Three talking points from Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid | La Liga GW8 | OneFootball

A buzzing atmosphere, high-quality football, suspension of play and a red card – the Madrid derby at the Civitas Metropolitano did not disappoint in any capacity despite the massive hype heading into it.

Real Madrid have historically struggled away in the Madrid derby in recent years and even lost to Atletico Madrid at the venue last season. They improved the result this time around but could not get it quite where they would have liked.

After 90 minutes of suspension-interrupted play, the game between the two Spanish giants played out into a 1-1 draw, sharing the spoils on Sunday night.

More importantly for the standings, however, it implies that Hansi Flick’s Barcelona still retain a three-point lead despite dropping three points against Osasuna.

Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways for Carlo Ancelotti from Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid.

Game marred by controversy

As a game between local rivals, derby clashes usually involve large stakes, massive emotions and rivalry surface not only on the field but also on the stands.

The Madrid derby, in recent years, has stood out as the epitome of such controversy but last night’s game saw it blown out of proportion.

It is not often that a game is forced to be abandoned midway for fans to cool off and discipline be re-inculcated. However, that was exactly what transpired at the Civitas Metropolitano last night in the second half.

The incident all began when Real Madrid took the lead against the run of play, triggering massive celebrations from all players in white and the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

What followed was completely berserk as Atletico fans began throwing objects onto the field, targeted at the player.

After the pelting did not reduce with announcements, the game was suspended for over ten minutes with players walking off the field.

Such incidents do not project a good image of the league to the world outside, but the tensions in a derby are always as high as one witnessed last night. If anything, that was what made the atmosphere electric.

Heartbreak at the nth minute

Angel Correa scored a late equaliser for Atletico. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Taking three points despite not being at their best has been the theme of Real Madrid’s season to this point and they once again were on course to replicate the same result at Civitas Metropolitano.

The men in white defended resiliently against Atletico Madrid’s attacking forays in the latter stages of the game, frustrating Simeone’s side and holding onto the three precious points.

Fate, however, had other plans as Los Rojiblancos pulled one back in the 95th minute of the game when everything seemed set in the visitors’ favour.

The goal stemmed from a stunning pass from Javi Galan who found Angel Correa in space. With only Courtois to beat and Eder Militao in his path, the Argentine star did well to take a touch away from the goalkeeper and bundle the ball over the line.

Three points last night would have helped Real Madrid capitalise on Barcelona’s slip-up and close the gap with the Catalans to one point.

The draw, however, means that Barcelona still have a three-point lead despite losing to Osasuna at El Sadar on Saturday.

Largely second best

Real Madrid took the lead against Diego Simeone’s side just past the hour mark with an Eder Militao goal as the Brazilian defender executed a fine volley to put the ball into Jan Oblak’s net.

Barring that one opportunity and a couple more sporadic chances, however, Real Madrid were not the better team on the field to any capacity.

The first-half from both sides was flat with neither creating clear-cut chances to score in the opening 45 minutes. In fact, Real Madrid did not create a single big chance the entire night.

After the break, the hosts came out of the tunnel determined to do better and upped the ante, creating some openings in the final third.

While Real Madrid had a few chances of their own, had it not been for a world-class performance from the centre-backs, they could well have been trailing their rivals on the night.

As fate had it, a moment of individual brilliance helped them take the lead but even the goal did not create a swing in momentum. Atletico Madrid racked up close to double the xG Los Blancos merited on the night.