Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t miss a beat: Real also wins derby

Sixth win in six league games for Ancelotti’s eleven.

Thanks to a masterful first half, closed 2-0 as a result of goals by Rodrygo in the 18th minute and Federico Valverde – the new standard bearer of the Merengue midfield after Casemiro’s farewell – in the 36th minute, Real Madrid made the capital’s derby its own by resisting the Colchoneros’ comeback in the second half, which materialized with Mario Hermoso’s 1-2 goal with 7 minutes left. The same Atletico defender, in the agitated finale, first confronted Carvajal head-on after a foul by the latter in midfield, then got himself sent off at stoppage time on the development of a corner in favor of Simeone’s team, in the midst of the final assault.

Thanks to the victory obtained on the field of their city rivals, in the usual hell of the ‘Metropolitano’, the Merengues maintain the lead in the standings with a two-point advantage over Barcelona, winner on Saturday 3-0 in the match against Elche. In the absence of Benzema, still stuck in the pits due to injury, the Brazilian Rodrygo, elected ‘Man of the match’ at the end of the match, was decisive.