Angel Correa salvaged a crucial point for Atletico Madrid with a last-minute equalizer against city rivals Real Madrid in a fiery derby that was marred by a lengthy delay due to crowd disturbances. The Argentine forward, introduced as a substitute, made a decisive impact in the dying moments, scoring after a controversial VAR check reversed the initial offside ruling. This late drama culminated in a tense second half, during which Atletico’s manager Diego Simeone and several players took matters into their own hands, trying to defuse the situation with home fans who had begun throwing objects onto the pitch.
Real Madrid initially took the lead in the 64th minute
Real Madrid initially took the lead in the 64th minute when Eder Militao’s deflected strike found the back of the net. The match, however, was temporarily halted shortly afterwards as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois alerted officials to the unruly behaviour of fans behind his goal. With tensions rising, the referee consulted both managers and sent the players off the field. The delay lasted around 20 minutes, with stadium announcements urging calm. Simeone was seen speaking directly to supporters in an attempt to quell the unrest before play eventually resumed.
Upon restarting, it seemed Real Madrid had secured the win, with Militao’s goal standing as the difference. Atletico struggled to find a breakthrough, and Real nearly extended their advantage when Vinicius Jr. tested Jan Oblak with a low shot. Oblak’s crucial save kept Atletico in the contest. As the clock wound down, Atletico desperately pushed for an equalizer. Samuel Lino came close, only for Courtois to make a vital save to maintain Real’s slim lead.
Angel Correa latched onto a through-ball
The pressure eventually paid off in stoppage time. Correa latched onto a through-ball, rounded Courtois, and slotted home what appeared to be the equalizer, only for it to be disallowed for offside. However, after a thorough VAR review, the goal was awarded, sparking wild celebrations among the Atletico players and fans. The excitement didn’t end there, as Marcos Llorente was sent off moments later for a reckless challenge on Fran Garcia, a decision upgraded from yellow to red after another VAR intervention.
This result keeps both Madrid clubs unbeaten in La Liga this season, though Real Madrid will be left ruing the missed opportunity to keep pace with leaders Barcelona, who sit three points ahead after their own stumble against Osasuna. Atletico, now just two points behind Real, remain firmly in the title race, buoyed by their late heroics in the derby. Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, despite their long unbeaten streak stretching back to September 2023, will see this as a missed chance to tighten their grip at the top. Missing the presence of summer signing Kylian Mbappe due to injury, Real lacked their usual cutting edge in front of goal, though they came close to a second with Vinicius’s effort.
The frenetic finale of this heated derby highlighted both the fierce competition between these two clubs and the fine margins that can define the outcome in such matches. Atletico’s ability to rescue a point in such dramatic fashion will give them renewed confidence as the season progresses, while Real Madrid will need to regroup and refocus as they aim to chase down Barcelona at the top of the table.