Real and Atlético couldn’t make it in the Madrid derby (0-0) on Week 7 of the Liga. Barça retains its leading position.
Finally, Barça must have smiled at the final whistle. Unable to win the Liga for the third time in a row, the catalan club could see Real Madrid in front of it or Atlético back to its level at the end of the Madrid derby, a clash of the Liga’s 7th day. Neither of his two scenarios has happened, and Ernesto Valverde’s team is still leading the Spanish Championship this Saturday night.
Nothing moved between the three huge favourites for the title in Spain, because just a month after the superb European Super Group between the two teams, the clash between Real Madrid and Atlético resulted in a disappointing draw (0-0). What can be learned from this scoreless match, played on alternating current and where the shots were not lacking ?
With Varane and Benzema in the starting line-up, Real seemed to be still marked by the slap received on the pitch from Seville FC (0-3) on Wednesday, and struggled to be dangerous. The greatest opportunity, for the Merengues, was to put to the credit of Asensio, but Oblak interposed (66′). Note that Bale (hit the adductors ?) was released at the break, replaced by Ceballos.
On the Atlético side, Griezmann and Diego Costa both had a duel against Courtois, but the attacking colchoneros failed to take the upper hand. If the Simeone players will be able to feed Some regrets, It is undoubtedly the spectators of Bernabeu who will depart from this most frustrated spectacle.
The player: courteous, not nice with his “ex”
Once again preferred to Keylor Navas for this derby, Thibaut Courtois hurt his former team. On two occasions, the goalkeeper had to play the big game. On two occasions, he stood up brilliantly, both times in one against one. The Belgian international first of all came out perfectly against Griezmann, thrown in the back of the defense, and rejected the dive attempted by the Frenchman… the head (18th). Twenty minutes later, he defeated Diego Costa, who had skipped company in Varane, by deflecting the ball from his left hand (37′). Two high-class saves, thanks to which Real did not find itself chasing the score.