Atlético Madrid stuns Real Madrid with a sensational 3-1 victory in the thrilling derby clash

Atlético Madrid enjoyed a delightful derby day as they secured a comprehensive 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Álvaro Morata, a former striker for Los Blancos, provided an early lead for Atlético, which was later extended by Antoine Griezmann. Just when the visitors seemed to be in dire straits, Madrid's veteran midfielder Toni Kroos managed to score a goal before halftime. However, Morata quickly restored the two-goal cushion in the opening seconds of the second half.

Madrid's new sensation, Jude Bellingham, couldn't replicate his past late-game magic as he suffered his first defeat since joining the Spanish capital in the summer. The loss not only ended Madrid's flawless start to the La Liga season but also dethroned them from the top position in the standings.

Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Los Blancos, took an experimental approach to his team selection by deploying four central midfielders, which included the likes of Kroos and Luka Modrić. This decision pushed the in-form Aurélien Tchouaméni to the bench, while Bellingham was given a role as a second striker alongside Rodrygo. Unfortunately, this tactical move backfired, and Ancelotti was quick to shoulder the blame.

"I admit, I could have performed more effectively, perhaps it is evident," stated Ancelotti in response to the game, as reported by Real Madrid. "When the team fails to execute appropriately, it is my duty to shoulder the responsibility. However, I possess the strength to handle it, it is not a concern."

Ancelotti radically experimented with his squad's setup on Sunday but did not get the result that he or madridistas were hoping for.

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Atletico Madrid quickly took the lead in the fourth minute of the game. Samuel Lino, the left wing-back, skillfully maneuvered past Federico Valverde and delivered a powerful cross into the box. Alvaro Morata, taking advantage of David Alaba's loss of position, skillfully headed the ball past Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The host team capitalized on their success, particularly exploiting the weakened left flank due to the absence of right-back Dani Carvajal, who is injured and was substituted by Lucas Vázquez. In the 18th minute, Saul Niguez sent a well-placed pass from that side of the pitch towards Antoine Griezmann, who confidently headed the ball into the net, extending Atletico's advantage.

Madrid, equipped with a strong midfield of four players, controlled the game while Atlético was satisfied with capitalizing on their limited time with the ball, which has become a trademark of Diego Simeone's team.

In the 35th minute, Kroos ignited Los Blancos' comeback with a tremendous strike from the outskirts of the penalty area, leaving Jan Oblak in goal unable to stop it.

Both goalkeepers had a busy first half, making crucial saves. Kepa denied Ñíguez with a well-timed stop, while Oblak saved Kroos' long-range shot. Madrid found renewed energy after the German midfielder's goal and pushed for an equalizer before halftime. In the 44th minute, Bellingham delivered a cross that Alaba met, but his effort hit the post. Fortunately, the rebound fell to Eduardo Camavinga, who calmly tapped it in for a goal.

However, the referee and VAR determined that Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger had impeded play while being in an offside position, resulting in the disallowing of the goal, which greatly frustrated the Merengues team.

Another controversial moment unfolded merely two minutes later, as Bellingham brilliantly set up Rodrygo on the left wing of Atlético's half, only to be cynically tackled by the last defender, Josè María Giménez. This led to fierce protests from Madrid players, who demanded a red card for the foul.

The referee ultimately rejected the appeals, and Atleti went into the halftime break with a 2-1 lead. Madrid seemed frustrated with their missed chance to equalize. The frustration at halftime quickly turned into disappointment in the second half as Atlético started the final 45 minutes even more aggressively than before. In just 32 seconds, Ñíguez delivered a perfect cross to Morata, who headed it into the net, scoring his second goal of the match. This increased his impressive goal-scoring streak as he once again defeated Kepa to his left.

Another ball in from the left, another header and another goal - Madrid had been rocked by the Colchoneros aerial threat.

Madrid was unable to deny Atlético in the air and conceded three very similar goals.

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Alvaro Morata's second goal proved decisive in securing a remarkable victory for Diego Simeone's squad, marking just their second triumph in the league against their rivals since the 2015/16 season.

In his post-match interview, Ancelotti expressed additional disappointment with his team's defensive display.

He stated that our defense was lacking, particularly in the first half, which Atlético took advantage of. All three goals were identical. The issue lay in our defense, not our attacking.

Madrid now sits third in La Liga, a point behind Girona and league leader Barcelona, while Atlético has moved up to fifth as a result of its efforts on Sunday.