Real Madrid don win one important derby match for La Liga after dem beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 for Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The match wey dey full of action see Vinicius Junior score two goals to give Madrid three points as dem dey pursue Barcelona for league table.
Atletico start the game well as Ademola Lookman score first goal for 33rd minute after Giuliano Simeone give am fine pass. Lookman wey join Atletico from Atalanta for winter transfer window don score five goals since e come the club. But Real Madrid come back strong for second half.
Vinicius Junior equalize for 52nd minute from penalty spot after Brahim Diaz fall inside box after David Hancko challenge. Three minutes later, Federico Valverde score to give Madrid 2-1 lead after e win ball from Jose Gimenez. Valverde don score for three straight league games now.
Atletico no give up as Nahuel Molina come from bench score powerful shot for 66th minute to make am 2-2. The Argentine defender wey score similar goal against Getafe last week show say e get quality for long range.
But Vinicius Junior come show why e be important player for Madrid as e score winning goal for 72nd minute. The Brazilian forward collect ball for left side, cut inside, then curl fine shot pass Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso. The goal make am Vinicius first league goals against Atletico after 12 derby matches without goal.
“Another great game by Vini, na example of e character and talent. Na great goal wey give us win for difficult moment. I dey lucky to get am for my team,” Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa talk after match. “We still dey for league fight. Mission don complete.”
The match get more drama when Valverde collect red card for 78th minute after hard tackle on Alex Baena. The sending off almost cost Madrid as Julian Alvarez hit post for 80th minute, but Madrid manage hold the lead till final whistle.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin start match because Thibaut Courtois dey injured, while Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak no play because injury too. Juan Musso start for Atletico instead.
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham both play small time as dem dey return from injury. Mbappe enter for 64th minute while Bellingham play last 15 minutes after hamstring injury for February.
The win make Madrid remain second for La Liga table with four points behind Barcelona with nine matches remain. Atletico dey fourth position, one point behind Villarreal.
For other La Liga matches, Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 through Ronald Araujo header. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia wey Barcelona buy from Espanyol for 25 million euros last summer show fine performance as e dey likely go World Cup with Spain.
Alaves do one big comeback as dem beat Celta Vigo 4-3 after trailing 3-0. Opta Statistics say na first time team win away match after trailing 3-0 for La Liga this century. New Alaves coach Quique Sanchez Flores talk say e never see comeback like that before.
Athletic Bilbao beat Real Betis 2-1 for first match since Ernesto Valverde talk say e go leave Basque club end of season.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone talk after derby say: “We fit do more for attack, and make e serve us for important games ahead.” Atletico get Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona and Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad coming soon.
The derby match show say La Liga title race still hot as Barcelona, Real Madrid and other teams dey fight for top position. With nine matches remain, anything fit happen for Spanish league.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
