Get the party started in Madrid as Atletico supporters will be burning the midnight hour all night long. Unfortunately, if you’re a fan of Real Madrid, you may not be able to show your face in the city for a few days. Atletico got goals from Tiago, Atoine Griezmann, Saul Niguez and Mario Mandzukic and hammered their rivals 4-0 on Saturday.
Minutes ahead of their sixth derby match this season, Real Madrid head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, issued a proclamation: “We’re not afraid of Atletio Madrid!” Hours later, after the final whistle blew, a stunned Ancelotti looked as if he had just seen a ghost. Atletico annihilated their inner city rivals 4-0 to stun the La Liga leaders, prompting our own proclamation for Ancelotti: “You should be.”
Real Madrid is now winless in their last six matches against Atletico who has been the Achilles heel for Los Blancos all season and Saturday morning was no different. Los Rojiblancos got out to an early 2-0 lead and never looked back, as they thoroughly dominated their rivals in every facet of the game. By the end of full time, Real Madrid had only attempted three shots.
It was rocking at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday as the two teams who share the same city met for the sixth time this season. The El Derbi Madrilène as it is called has been a lopsided affair over the past two seasons as the Atleti are 5-3-3 against Real Madrid since Diego Simone took over as head coach for los Rojiblancos. Today’s stunning 4-0 victory is the largest triumph by Atletico over their rivals in Simeone’s time as coach, and the second largest in Madrid Derby history.
Tiago got Atletico on the board first after a great shot in the 14th minute from outside the box. That got the crowd on their feet, but the party really started less than five minutes later when Saul Niguez sent an incredible bicycle kick passed Iker Casillas to give the Atleti an early 2-0 lead. The stadium level reached a fever pitch in the second half as Ateltico poured it on with goals from Griezmann and Mandzukic. At one point in the second half, the stadium was so loud that you needed ear plugs just to hear yourself talk.
More important than the derby victory over their rivals, is the three points Atletico Madrid secured in the La Liga standings. With the win and the points, the Atleti move into a tie for second place with FC Barcelona as both teams are now just four points behind Real Madrid. Barcelona takes on Athletic Club tomorrow. If Barca can win that game (and they should), they will move within one point of Real Madrid. It is officially a three-horse race for the Spanish League title and Real Madrid is in deep trouble as they will be without stars Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez for the next two months.
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