BARCELONA:
Alvaro Morata struck twice for Atletico Madrid as they inflicted rivals Real Madrid’s first defeat of the season, with a 3-1 derby triumph on Sunday in La Liga.
Champions Barcelona sit top of the league as Los Blancos lost their 100 percent record, with Antoine Griezmann also on target for Atletico, fifth, at their raucous Metropolitano stadium.
Real Madrid are third, a point behind Barcelona and high-flying Girona in second place, after they failed to match Atletico’s level of intensity in an enthralling clash.
Morata netted an early header and Griezmann doubled Atletico’s lead, before Toni Kroos pulled Madrid into the game with a stinging drive before half-time.
However Morata headed home again at the start of the second half and Madrid could not find a way back against an Atletico side bouncing back from what coach Diego Simeone labelled their “weakest” performance of his long reign last weekend.
“It was a problem of defensive fragility, which we haven’t had in the first few games,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
“In just over 45 minutes they put three past us, it was not a good night … the team was not compact, above all in the first half, Atletico took advantage of that.”
Morata led the line well for Atletico and was rewarded with two goals, which he celebrated wildly.
“What I need is to feel important and this year, maybe I feel more important than in other years — I hope we keep winning because I really want to win a title with Atletico,” Morata told DAZN.
“I’m very happy for all the fans, I said it the other day … that the fans are going to have the most important role, and that’s how it was.
“(We’re) all together, us on the pitch and them in the stands.”
Ancelotti has given veteran midfielders Luka Modric and Kroos limited minutes this season but chose to start them both in the team’s biggest game of the campaign to date, dropping Aurelien Tchouameni and striker Joselu.
The Italian pushed new arrival Jude Bellingham even further into attack, alongside Rodrygo, instead of in the number 10 role he has starred in since his move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, scoring six goals in his first six games before the derby.
Real Madrid were without star forward Vinicius Junior, who has recovered from his hamstring injury but suffered a stomach problem on Sunday morning, according to Spanish reports.
It only took four minutes for Atletico to go ahead.
Samuel Lino, playing at left wing-back, whipped a ball in for Morata to head home after escaping the attentions of David Alaba.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 18th minute when Griezmann directed a header past Kepa Arrizabalaga from Saul Niguez’s cross.
Atletico should have made it three after half an hour but Madrid’s goalkeeper, on loan from Chelsea, produced a fine low save to deny Saul.
The Rojiblancos were quickly made to pay when Kroos swerved away from Marcos Llorente and drilled past Jan Oblak from the edge of the box.
Ancelotti sent Joselu on for Modric, the game largely passing the 38-year-old by, yet barely a minute into the second half, Atletico stretched their lead.
Alaba left Morata free behind him, assuming Camavinga would mark the Spain forward, who netted with a free header from Saul’s cross.
“The three goals were a photocopy,” complained Ancelotti.
“Space opening between the centre-backs, we were not well positioned in the area — we were not compact on the three goals.”
Substitute Tchouameni and Rudiger sent long-range efforts narrowly wide for Madrid as the hosts kept their opponents at arm’s length and secured an impressive win.
England international Bellingham, who failed to have a strong influence on the game for the first time since arriving, was booked for a wild tackle on Angel Correa in stoppage time to end a disappointing night.
By contrast, Atletico Madrid players celebrated with their fans at full-time and coach Simeone was delighted.
“The important thing is that the team got their spirit back, because if that has been recovered, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is,” the Argentine coach told DAZN.
