The captain of Atlético Madrid shared his thoughts on the goalkeeper, expressing disappointment about the circumstances that led to the temporary suspension of the match.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ángel Correa’s goal brought Atlético Madrid to a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid, who initially took the lead through Eder Militao.
In the 94th minute, a run by Correa, followed by a rebound and a scrappy finish from the Argentinian striker leveled a match that had been stagnant for over an hour and chaotic after Real Madrid’s 1-0 lead came in the 64th minute. The game was interrupted temporarily in the 69th minute for 22 minutes due to the constant throwing of objects from the ‘Frente Atlético’ section, following Militao’s goal. During the commotion, a lighter was thrown into the area of Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, who has a previous connection to Atlético Madrid, prompting him to hand the lighter to referee Busquets Ferrer, who then went to inform the match delegate.
Koke and other Atlético players attempted to calm their fans during the disruption. The match was temporarily halted following multiple warnings broadcasted to the crowd regarding the behavior of the supporters. Despite pleas from players like Koke Resurrección, coach Diego Simeone, and José María Giménez, the match had to be paused.
After a brief wait, with Real Madrid already heading to the locker rooms, the initially planned 10-minute suspension extended as both teams waited inside the stadium. The match eventually resumed, where Real Madrid had the chance to go 2-0 up before Atlético equalized, resulting in a final score of 1-1. The goal was subject to VAR review for offside, but it was validated by a narrow margin.
Neither team claimed victory, leaving both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid just a point behind Barcelona in the standings. The match dynamics were shaped by each team’s cautious approach, reflecting a deep respect for their opponents. The dread of falling into previous mistakes kept both teams in a defensive mindset during crucial moments.
As the game kicked off, both teams evaluated each other’s strengths, mirroring a chess game as they strategically advanced and refrained from counterattacking aggressively. Real Madrid initiated the game more confidently with some attempts, yet neither team managed to break through effectively in the first half.
Real Madrid displayed more attacking intent with efforts from Valverde stopped by Oblak, while Bellingham and Vinícius struggled to have a significant impact. For Atlético, the second half saw more of Griezmann and a gradually increasing offensive effort as they sought to exploit any defensive lapses from their opponents.
Ultimately, the match showcased the necessity for both teams to increase their aggression, particularly as time ticked away. The moment of breakthrough came when Militao scored, turning the tide before Correa salvaged a point for Atlético under pressing circumstances, highlighting the precarious nature of competition in LaLiga.