Recap & Highlights: Real Madrid 1 – 1 Atletico Madrid; Liga F

Real Madrid drew in the first Madrid derby of the season against Atletico Madrid. Below are my thoughts and views on the match.

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  Real Madrid XI
  
  

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  Atleti XI
  
  

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  Substitutes
  
  

Misa started on goal. Shei started on RB against her former team, while Olga went on LB. Rocío-Lakrar was the CB duo. Teresa and Angeldahl made up the pivot duo. The front four consisted of Feller and Linda on the wings, with Bruun leading the attack while Weir played behind the striker. The standard 4-2-3-1 formation.

While the possession was leveled the entire game, it was mostly because of the quick recoveries both teams were doing. Real Madrid had much more control on their left-hand side and would easily find space on the left. Linda combined with Olga a lot, but rarely anything would come from that. As well as the triangles they made with Teresa which would just slow the attack down. On the occasions in which Weir would come to form triangles, the play moved swiftly and with great understanding. Especially the inside-the-box combinations between Weir and Linda. Weir’s goal in the 7th minute is the perfect example of such action.

• 7’ GOAL (1-0) by Caroline Weir: Chance started with the Linda-Weir-Linda combination. Caicedo would then run up to the box, see Weir entering, then pass back to her. Quick pass to Bruun in the center of the box who took two defenders with her and allowed herself to make a brilliant backheel pass to Weir while she made her way through Atletico’s backline. One of the best goals I’ve seen this team produce.

Linda carried the ball a lot, she would also tend to shoot when she was clearly surrounded by the rival defenders. She managed two on-target shots by trying to shoot in this way after finding the smallest space where the ball could go through the two defenders in front. Both of the shots were saved by Gallardo under the crossbar. An incredible performance from Atletico’s goalkeeper all game around.

One of the main characteristics of Real’s gameplay in this derby is the inability to keep the possession on the right-hand side. Atletico would always come in victorious even in the beginning of their wide press. Rojiblancas easily recovered the ball on that flank each time they went for it. The word “right” was not in Real’s vocabulary in this game, especially in the first half.

In 76’ Tere gave away a penalty against Gaby. A decision that’s more than questionable, but nothing that the audience isn’t used to from the Liga F referees.

There were no halftime substitutions. The second half started exactly where the first left off – with constantly losing possession on the right-hand side. By putting on Athenea instead of Feller on the right in 62’, Las Blancas lost that security in defense as Feller was often seen in the last line of defense in the first 60 minutes of the encounter. Subbing off Bruun for Redondo didn’t help this imbalance either because whenever Redondo would carry the ball it would be by taking the ball on the left and running towards the center trying to get through.

Atletico had only two corner kicks the entire match, as opposed to Real Madrid’s 12, but in both corners, Las Blancas struggled to mark and the only reason the ball got cleared both times was Misa.

• 78’ GOAL (1-1) by Vilde Bøe Risa: the Norwegian makes no mistake from the spot.

Two minutes after the goal, Toril made a triple sub. Leupolz, Oihane and Møller came on for Angeldahl, Shei and Weir. In the last 10 minutes of the game, Oihane took over the attack on the right side and managed to keep the play on the right-hand side at times.

In the dying minutes of the game, Las Blancas tried to take a late lead, but Lola Gallardo denied it.

Aside from the questionable decision to give away the penalty, it was a more than deserved draw against city rivals for Las Blancas. After winning the first 5 matchdays, Real Madrid lost their first two points in the league this season, the same as Atleti. The top 3 remain unchanged, as Barcelona stays on top with 18 points, followed by Real Madrid and Atletico with 16 points each.