Derbi Madrid don land for Metropolitano. Atlético de Madrid host Real Madrid for LaLiga EA Sports seventh jornada. Kickoff na 16:15, Orange TV and Dazn show am. Stadium full, himno rojiblanco dey sound, one end carry tifo ‘Del Atleti al cielo’.
Diego Pablo Simeone and José Mourinho meet again for derbi. Both coaches need win so dem no go fall too far behind Barcelona wey still dey perfect. Atleti lose last LaLiga derbi against Madrid 3-2 for March, after dem no lose previous six (two wins, four draws). Simeone side only twice chain two or more LaLiga defeats against Madrid: three defeats for 2013 and two defeats for 2020. Madrid lose three of last five away LaLiga games for Atleti (one win, one draw), after only one loss in previous twenty visits (twelve wins, seven draws).
Lineup dey out. Atlético start with Oblak for goal; Pubill, Cuti Romero, Hancko and Llorente for defence; Johnny, Grimaldo and Giuliano for midfield; Kang-In Lee and Baena behind Jonathan David. Real Madrid under Mourinho line up 4-2-3-1: Courtois for post; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen and Cucurella for defence; Valverde and Tchouameni for midfield; Güler, Bellingham and Vinicius behind Mbappé. Koke, Julián Alvarez and Yan Diomande dey among substitutes.
Match start hot. Simeone and Mourinho jump together for touchline, both dey smile as himno rojiblanco shake stadium. First chance fall to Jonathan David. Llorente play him through behind Madrid defence, but angle tight and shot go wide. Offside too. Güler and Baena light first spark. Simeone collect yellow for protest at 05:16. Na earliest yellow for a coach in LaLiga game since at least 2019/20. Baena leave message for Güler after ball, Güler vex, Simeone make big gestures, referee show am card.
Atleti press with Kang-In Lee as conductor. Jonathan David no fit finish one good cross from Kang-In. Tchouameni and Giuliano try consecutive shots, no luck. Then Vinicius enter picture with two dangerous moves, but both shots miss target. Courtois must show strong hand to stop Kang-In Lee shot, the most dangerous from Atleti. Konaté clear Hancko follow-up after rebound. Madrid no get midfield control. Güler and Bellingham barely show for creation. Vinicius no dey help much defensively. Still, Atleti no create enough volume to truly threaten Madrid structure, wey Huijsen hold well. Madrid do less in attack. No centre midfield, dem rely on individual moments.
VAR palava burst. Romero step on Bellingham knee. VAR call referee Ortiz Arias to check possible red card. Madrid players surround referee, Bellingham point his knee, Romero stay ground. In end, no red. Referee remove yellow from Bellingham and give yellow to Cuti Romero. Na identity confusion dem review, not red card. Earlier Pubill collect yellow for stopping Mbappé run, but Atleti protest say Mbappé foul Baena before. Kang-In Lee also step on Valverde, e remain only foul. Mbappé fall for area in tussle with Pubill, play continue. Ref go talk to Mourinho after Baena foul on Güler, no card. Bellingham stay protest to Ortiz Arias.
Half-time reach for Metropolitano with score level. First half carry more tension and controversy than clear chances. Atleti get more ball, Madrid shoot more. Atleti commit seven more fouls. Madrid grow after VAR confusion, but no real danger pass Güler long shot. Oblak punch Güler powerful drive, e no fit catch am clean. Three minutes added time. Real Madrid no get centre midfield and give themselves to individual play. Atleti accept game, pass short from back with sense. Pubill cross blocked by Cucurella. Vinicius try again from front, shot go high. Vinicius also attempt golazo, cut past Romero, shoot left, go just wide.
Second half key na to stay safe, according to the report. Simeone no want risks. He leave booked Pubill for bench and Koke enter. Na first modification Simeone prepare. The derbi still dey go, with tensions and VAR debate never far away.
