Kylian Mbappe cancelled out a controversial penalty from Julian Alvarez, as Real Madrid came from a goal behind to draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in Saturday night's Madrid derby at Bernabeu.
Alvarez made the breakthrough from the spot in the 35th minute after a surprise award, with Aurelien Tchouameni adjudged to have brought Samuel Lino to the ground inside the box when contact was minimal at best.
However, Real Madrid answered back early in the second period through Mbappe, with the France international finding the back of the net to level the scores, and neither team could find a third in the capital affair.
Carlo Ancelotti's side remain top of the La Liga table, one point clear of second-placed Atletico, while third-placed Barcelona will have the chance to move to within two points of the summit when they tackle Sevilla on Sunday.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
That is now three straight 1-1 draws between Real Madrid and Atletico, with the scoreline not even slightly surprising.
Real Madrid will have been furious about the award of the penalty, but it would have been a bigger story had the home side been unable to fight back, with Mbappe levelling early in the second period.
Both teams showed title credentials on Saturday night, with this Atletico team the real deal, and it would not be a shock to see Diego Simeone's side finish at the top of the division at the end of the campaign.
The real winners at Bernabeu were Barcelona, though, as this is the scoreline that the Catalan giants would have been hoping for; a win over Sevilla on Sunday would now move them to within two points of the summit.
It is shaping up to be a fascinating title race in the closing months of the campaign, and Atletico's performance at Bernabeu further strengthened suggestions that a first La Liga trophy since 2020-21 could be secured.
On another night, Real Madrid would have won this, but Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak was in inspired form, making eight saves in total, including one in the final exchanges to deny Mbappe a late derby-day winner.
REAL MADRID VS. ATLETICO MADRID HIGHLIGHTS
Julian Alvarez goal vs. Real Madrid (35th min, Real Madrid 0-1 Atletico Madrid)
Atleti take full advantage of their opportunity from the spot! 🔴⚪
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 8, 2025
What composure from Julian Alvarez under that pressure 👏 pic.twitter.com/4T8DaQlmiR
Atletico take the lead from the penalty spot in the 35th minute, with Alvarez chipping straight down the middle.
The award of the spot kick came after Tchouameni was adjudged to have felled Lino - the referee was sent to the monitor to have a look, and it is extremely debatable, with limited contact being made.
Kylian Mbappe goal vs. Real Madrid (50th min, Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid)
Kylian Mbappé comes up with the equaliser! 🙌
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 8, 2025
Just the start Real Madrid will have wanted to the second half ⚪ pic.twitter.com/jWDj9nWJUu
Real Madrid level the scores in the 50th minute of the contest, as Mbappe fires into the back of the net after the ball had broken to him from a blocked Jude Bellingham attempt - a huge moment in the Madrid derby, with Los Blancos' number nine finding the back of the net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - KYLIAN MBAPPE
© Imago
Oblak deserves a mention here, with the Atletico goalkeeper in wonderful form, but Mbappe again showed signs of his best in the Madrid derby, with the Frenchman a constant problem for the Atletico defence.
The 26-year-old continued his excellent form with the leveller early in the second half, while he completed four dribbles and finished with a pass success rate of 92% during another standout performance.
REAL MADRID VS. ATLETICO MADRID MATCH STATS
Possession: Real Madrid 60%-40% Atletico Madrid
Shots: Real Madrid 23-10 Atletico Madrid
Shots on target: Real Madrid 9-1 Atletico Madrid
Corners: Real Madrid 6-1 Atletico Madrid
Fouls: Real Madrid 14-13 Atletico Madrid
BEST STATS
9 - Only Ousmane Dembélé (13) has scored more goals than #RealMadrid striker ⚪️⚪️, Kylian Mbappé (9, like Mateo Retegui), among players from teams in the top five European leagues counting all competitions in 2025. Claw. pic.twitter.com/RtWgFTNfif
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 8, 2025
2 - Since at least the 2003/04 season, this is the second time that a derby between #RealMadrid ⚪️⚪️ and #AtléticoDeMadrid 🔴⚪️ in @LaLigaEn has gone to half-time with a maximum of one shot on target (also 1 in November 2017). Lock. pic.twitter.com/OeTqY3mwjA
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 8, 2025
3 - Since 2008/09, this is #AtléticoDeMadrid's 🔴⚪️ third penalty goal against #RealMadrid ⚪️⚪️ in @LaLigaEn (out of four taken), this being the second at the Santiago Bernabéu after one by Diego Forlán in March 2010. Spider. pic.twitter.com/mSd0mvdGLd
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 8, 2025
Kylian Mbappé now has 500 career goal contributions.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 8, 2025
He's the youngest player in history to achieve this feat at just 26 years old ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/nkiOLN75CX
Since the start of 2017/18 season, when Dani Ceballos made his Real Madrid debut, there have been 366 instances of a player attempting 100+ passes in a LaLiga game.
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 8, 2025
◉ 102 passes attempted
◉ 101 passes completed
◉ 99.02% pass accuracy
Dani Ceballos is the only player to... pic.twitter.com/kiu6nc7pep
WHAT NEXT?
Real Madrid's attention will now switch to the Champions League, with Los Blancos heading to Manchester City on Tuesday night for the first leg of their knockout round playoff with the Premier League champions.
Ancelotti's side will then return to La Liga action away to Osasuna next Saturday, while Atletico have a free week, having already secured their spot in the knockout round of the Champions League, and they are back in league action against Celta Vigo next Saturday.
Matt Law
