Real Madrid don carry three points for their hand after dem win Atletico Madrid 3-2 for one serious Madrid derby wey happen for Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The match dey full of action from beginning to end, and na Vinicius Junior be the main hero wey score two important goals for his team.
Atletico start the game well well, and na Ademola Lookman give dem early lead for first half. But Real Madrid no gree give up. For second half, Vinicius Junior equalize from penalty spot after Brahim Diaz fall inside Atletico box. Not long after, Federico Valverde score another goal give Real Madrid to put dem ahead.
Just as people think say Real don win, Nahuel Molina from Atletico shoot one powerful shot from far distance wey enter net to make score become 2-2. The tension for stadium increase as both teams dey fight for winning goal.
Na for this moment Vinicius Junior show why dem dey call am important player. The Brazilian forward collect pass from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold and curl one fine shot pass Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso to give Real Madrid the winning goal. The whole stadium dey celebrate as Vinicius run go corner flag to celebrate with fans.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa talk say him dey happy with how him team play. “We show mental toughness and strength worthy of this club badge,” Arbeloa tell reporters after match. “Na small thing make things hard for us and we suffer plenty, but we manage to win.”
Vinicius Junior himself talk say him dey happy with him performance. “Everybody deserve credit – the coach, the players, the fans, all the work we don do this week,” Vinicius tell Real Madrid TV. “I dey very happy because I don work all season for games like this. When this kind moment for season come, I no know why, but I always improve.”
The match no end without small wahala. Federico Valverde collect red card for one challenge on Atletico player Alex Baena for last minutes of the game. Referee Jose Luis Munuera say the challenge get excessive force. This one make Real Madrid finish the match with 10 players, but dem still manage to hold their lead.
Arbeloa talk say him no agree with the red card decision. “I get different view from Jose Luis,” the coach explain. “Him say na excessive force. I no see am like that. You fit see plenty challenges like that, no be say dem wan hurt Baena. But I dey grateful for him explanation.”
This win dey important for Real Madrid because dem dey chase Barcelona for La Liga title race. Barcelona don win their own match against Rayo Vallecano 1-0 earlier for Sunday, so Real Madrid need this victory to maintain four points gap between dem and Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone talk say him team fit do better. “We fit do more,” Simeone talk. “When we dey lead 1-0, we fit control the game better. But Real Madrid play well and dem get Vinicius wey dey on fire.”
Vinicius Junior don now score 10 goals for him last 11 matches across all competitions. Him performance for this derby follow him two goals against Manchester City for Champions League last 16 match for Tuesday. Arbeloa praise Vinicius plenty since him become coach for January.
“Another great game from Vinicius, another demonstration of bravery and character,” Arbeloa talk. “Na great goal wey give us victory for one tricky moment. I dey so lucky to get am, for him commitment and him talent.”
Real Madrid also get good news as Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe return from injury. Both players enter as substitutes for second half, with Bellingham making him first appearance since February 1 after hamstring injury. Though dem no too influence the game, their return dey important as Real Madrid dey prepare for remaining matches for season.
With this victory, Real Madrid maintain second position for La Liga table with 66 points from 29 matches, while Barcelona dey first with 70 points. Atletico Madrid dey fourth position with 54 points, one point behind third-place Villarreal.
The derby win complete one successful week for Real Madrid after dem qualify for Champions League quarterfinals. As La Liga season dey enter important stage, every match dey important for title race. Vinicius Junior don show say him ready to carry him team for him back as dem dey chase trophies for this season.
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