Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid Player Ratings: Brahim Diaz’s wonder goal gives Los Blancos the lead in a game full of sublime goals

Real Madrid take a 2-1 lead against Atletico Madrid after beating them at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League. Los Blancos took the early as Rodyrgo scored a stunner. Atletico Madrid hit back soon thanks to Julian Alvarez who scored a beauty of his own. Brahim Diaz scored another sublime goal in a game full of fantastic goals to put the hosts in front. It was enough to seal the game as Atletico Madrid didn’t have enough in attack to trouble the hosts.

Defending champions Real Madrid were coming off the back of a shocking 2-1 defeat to Real Betis in the league. Carlo Ancelotti opted to use Federico Valverde at right-back to name a mobile midfield. Jude Bellingham’s suspension meant Brahim Diaz got a nod to start in the middle for his creativity as Luka Modric was dropped to the bench.

Atletico Madrid had no such suspension worries as they went with a tried and tested 4-4-2. Julian Alvarez who scored on the weekend in the crucial 1-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao started alongside Antoine Griezmann. Diego Simeone had to pick between the experience of Marcos Llorente and the guile of his son Giuliano Simeone on the right side in attack. Clement Lenglet got a start at the heart of defense as well.

Real Madrid were off to a scintillating start as they scored with the first real attack of the game. Federico Valverde slipped Rodyrgo down the right-hand side with just four minutes on the clock. The Brazilian beat Javi Galan for pace and cut inside onto his left foot before curling a vicious shot past a diving Jan Oblak to give Real Madrid the lead. The early goal gave Los Blancos a lot of time to settle into the game and put more pressure on the visitors.

Atletico Madrid found their best bits on the break as Federico Valverde cleared his lines twice when Simeone delivered dangerous crosses into the middle. Julian Alvarez lit up the away fans when he scored a screamer to equalize just past the 30-minute mark. The Argentine picked the ball on the left flank before shaking off Eduardo Camavinga and firing a swirling effort past a desperate Thibaut Courtois to draw things level.

Atletico Madrid put up a stellar defensive show to keep Real Madrid’s dangerous front three out of the game. Real Madrid again gave away their goal advantage concerning Ancelotti. The game was level going into the half-time as both sides had stellar goals and nothing much apart from that to show. It was understandable since there was a lot of time left in the tie to play for.

The game opened up in the second half as Atletico Madrid came out playing some fluid football. Ferland Mendy put a huge block to deny Rodrigo De Paul in the box. But it was Real Madrid who took the lead as Brahim Diaz put his dancing shoes on. Brahim exchanged 1-2s with Vinicus and Ferland Mendy on the left before dancing past Jose Gimenez in the box and getting his shot through four red and white shirts into the bottom corner.

After substitutions took place on the hour mark, Real Madrid looked comfortable controlling the tempo of the game as Atletico fizzled out. Despite a drastic change in the system, Los Rojiblancos hardly had a sniff of Real Madrid’s goal. They were happy to settle for a defeat and keep the margin down as Real Madrid ran down the clock. Kylian Mbappe could’ve piled more misery on them but he failed to find Vinicius in the box as the referee blew his full-time whistle.

Real Madrid hold the aces going into the half-time in the tie courtesy of their star power. They know what will be in store for them at a fully fired-up Wanda Metropolitano in a week. They face Rayo Vallecano in a must-win league game on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid will be relieved to have come out of Santiago Bernabeu with just a marginal loss. They will back themselves to turn things around at their home ground next week. In the league, they face yet another Madrid derby against Getafe on Sunday as they build their La Liga charge.

Real Madrid Player Ratings

GK – Thibaut Courtois – 6/10

Was helpless just like Oblak when the ball flew past him into the net even at full stretch. Did well to keep Griezmann’s effort out.

RB – Federico Valverde – 7/10

Played a lovely through pass down the right to release Rodyrgo for the opener. Made a desperate dash to clear a Giuliano Simeone cross to show his defensive proficiency.

CB – Raul Asencio – 7/10

Looking like a veteran centre-back as he is comfortable on the ball and can handle his own. Dealt with Alvarez particularly well in the second half.

CB – Antonio Rudiger – 6.5/10

Played his trademark long balls to wide areas from the back and won key duels against the forwards.

LB – Ferland Mendy – 6/10

Was beaten by Simeone far too easily a couple of times. Had to thank his defenders for bailing him out. A fine block to deny De Paul in the second half.

CM – Aurelien Tchouameni – 6/10

A safe option on the ball and sat deep to help his side defend against fast Atletico breaks.

CM – Eduardo Camavinga – 6/10

Got too close to Alvarez on the flank and was easily beaten by him when he cut inside past him for the equaliser. He was taken off on the hour mark as Ancelotti wanted more control.

CM – Brahim Diaz – 8/10

Started the game with plenty of tricks and creativity as he played Vinicius through on goal. A moment of magic in the second half as he waltzed past the defenders and delightfully placed one to give them the lead again.

RW – Rodrygo – 7.5/10

Got the goal side of Javi Galan thanks to his pace and found the bottom corner excellently to score his 25th career Champions League goal.

ST – Kylian Mbappe – 6/10

Was silenced by a well-worked Atletico Madrid side who were happy to sit deep and didn’t offer him the space to run in behind. Failed to put the game to bed as his cross was blocked late in the game.

LW – Vinicius Jr – 6/10

Had two attempts foiled in the opening quarter after being released by his teammates early on. Was getting fouled a lot which drew the referee’s attention.

Sub – Luka Modric- 6/10

The Croatian entered the pitch with a lead to defend and to give more control to Real Madrid.

Sub – Lucas Vazquez- 6/10

Sub – Endrick-N/A

Manager – Carlo Ancelotti – 6/10

Took a gamble by starting Brahim Diaz ahead of the classy Luka Modric and it worked out. The dependence on individual brilliance will concern him going deep into the season.

Also Read: Real Betis 2-1 Real Madrid Player Ratings: Los Blancos Suffer a Defeat as Isco Scored the Winner Against His Former Club

Atletico Madrid Player Ratings

GK – Jan Oblak – 5.5/10

He was at full stretch to deny Rodrygo but couldn’t even get fingertips onto the shot as it flew past him. He was blindsided for the second goal as well.

RB – Marcos Llorente – 6/10

He had a proper battle with Vinicius Jr and had mixed results from it as there were both good and bad bits. A fantastic lung to prevent Vinicius from converting Mbappe’s cross in added time and kill the tie.

CB – Jose Gimenez – 6/10

A fantastic last-ditch block to deny a certain goal from Vinicius to deny Real Madrid doubling their lead early on. He was beaten by Brahim easily for his goal but did recover to deny him a second.

CB – Clement Lenglet- 5/10

Stood in Rodrygo’s path for the opener but was spun too easily by the mercurial winger who cut onto his left foot.

LB – Javi Galan – 6/10

A nightmare start for him as he couldn’t get to grips with Rodrygo’s pace and got on the wrong side of him. Almost conceded a penalty to the same player when we nearly tripped him in the box.

RM – Giuliano Simeone- 6/10

Had a lively start with some powerful dribbles down the right. He had some purpose as well as he fired two dangerous crosses into the middle.

CM – Rodrigo De Paul – 6.5/10

Worked hard in midfield and patiently kept the ball as Atletico looked for an equalizer. More attack-minded in the second half as kept asking questions from half-spaces.

CM – Pablo Barrios – 6/10

Swept up high as Atletico grew in confidence in the game and helped his side retain the ball. His manager needed more from on the ball but he couldn’t deliver on the night.

LM – Samuel Lino – 6/10

Made good runs into the penalty area but he was denied the service by some good defending. Shared his flank with Alvarez who was happy to peel wide and attack.

ST – Antoine Griezmann – 6.5/10

Dropped deep and created openings for his side through his excellent creativity. Forced a fine save from Courtois in the second half.

ST – Julian Alvarez – 8/10

He was all over the pitch and on the left especially when he picked the ball and scored a peach of an equaliser past Courtois. Had the chance to lead the line alone in the second half but couldn’t conjure much.

Sub – Conor Gallagher- 6/10

Sub – Nahuel Molina- 6/10

Sub – Robin Le Normand – 6/10

Sub – Alexander Sorloth – 6/10

Sub -Angel Correa – 6/10

Manager – Diego Simeone – 6/10

Instructed his side to sit deep and hit on the break. It worked well and he was once again delighted by summer signing Julian Alvarez’s breathtaking exploits. A radical change of plan and system after going a goal down again in the second half.

Sportsdunia’s Player of the Match goes to: Brahim Diaz

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