It was more of the same in the most recent Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Once again, Real Madrid was saved from defeat. Atlético de Madrid complained about the referees.
With an agonizing goal from Uruguayan youth striker Álvaro Rodríguez, Madrid salvaged a 1-1 draw in the Spanish league on Saturday and remained unbeaten against their capital rival at home in the last seven years.
Atlético played with 10 men from the 64th minute due to the controversial expulsion of the Argentine attacker Ángel Correa with a direct red card for elbowing the Merengue defender Antonio Rüdiger.
“Nothing new at the Bernabéu,” Atlético tweeted after the game. They also complained about the referees’ decisions after a Copa del Rey loss at the Bernabéu last month.
Atlético coach Diego Simeone said that Correa’s foul did not lead to an expulsion.
“The blow does not have the violence to remove a player from the field,” said the Argentine strategist. “Rudiger got up right away… If it were serious, there would be no players left on the field. It is becoming normal and it would be nice if we could all compete in the same way”.
Atlético also shared a photo on Twitter with the bleeding leg of one of their players: “This is the leg of our ‘aggressor’. We continue without news at the Bernabéu ”, they stamped in the text.
“Last five derbies with a red card, maybe in the next one we’ll start with one less,” shot the mattress goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Rodríguez sealed the equalizer with a header in the 85th minute after Atlético took the lead through another strike from Uruguayan defender José María Giménez, so much so that it hinted at the possibility of leaving the Bernabéu with flying colors for the first time since 2016.
“It is an important point on a difficult field where you have to compete very well,” said Giménez. “You have to give merit to the point for how it was given.”
Giménez came on as a substitute in the first half due to an injury to Reinildo Mandava during the first 20 minutes. With his goal, he made his debut as a scorer in the tournament.
Equality impacts the meringue aspirations to fight for the title by staying with 52 units in the second position, seven behind the leader Barcelona, which this Sunday could extend its advantage if it wins a visit to Almería in its duel for the 23rd date.
Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid goalkeeper stretches in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid a goal by José Giménez, of Atlético de Madrid, on Saturday, February 25.