Real Madrid 1-1 Atlético Madrid LaLiga Santander, week 31: As it happened, match report, goals, action

Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico: match report

Real Madrid dominated everywhere except for the scoreboard as they give Barcelona hope in the race for LaLiga after drawing with Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeú. [Barcelona would throw their chance away though, losing 2-0 to Málaga in the 20:45 game] The game was a nervy affair with Atletico being subdued for long periods but a late Antoine Griezmann goal saved their bacon with time running out fast in the second half.

The first half started in quite a tame fashion but it was Real Madrid who had the best chances in the first half. Cristiano Ronaldo had a shot saved off the line by Stefan Savic's head and a couple of Jan Oblak saves kept the game scoreless. Atletico were not without their chances. Saúl had a header that went inches wide from a Koke free-kick and Griezmann forced an excellent save from Navas when he intercepted a Ramos pass and drove towards goal before unleashing a shot from distance.

The second half came at the right time for Atletico as Real Madrid were gaining ground and a foothold in the game and putting increasing pressure on their opponents. Neither manager made a change at half-time as they preferred to let the game evolve naturally.

Real Madrid continued where they left off and kept knocking lightly at the door without ever fully announcing themselves in the game. Benzema came close after Ronaldo headed down to him but Oblak was not in the mood for being beaten.

That was until Saúl was booked for a handball out the field and Kroos stood over the free-kick. He whipped it in and after Pepe managed to lose his marker in Juanfran, he headed home with no chance for Oblak after 52 minutes.

The game continued in that fashion as Simeone prepared to empty the bench. His first substitution was Correa, and he would have a massive impact on the game. His through ball found Griezmann out on the left and with plenty still to do, the French attacker finished beyond Navas to make it 1-1 in the 85th minute and with not enough time to respond.

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Zinedine Zidane will be in for some criticism as many have pointed out that his substitutes were rather regressive in taking off Kroos, who was controlling the game along with Bale, who was growing into it as time ticked by. 

Real Madrid still have three points of an advantage over Barcelona and it looks as though everything will come down to the Clásico at the end of April. Meanwhile, Atletico will be delighted with the result as they maintain their objective to finish third in LaLiga and build momentum for the Champions League.

Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico: second half

FT: Atletico Madrid rescue a point.

Min 90+3 | Ball rolls to Oblak as he takes his time over it before picking it up. Game has hit a lull now with just a minute to go. 

Min 90 | Real Madrid trying to raid down the left but Juanfran slides in and gets a touch before Vazquez puts it out for a goalkick. I can't imagine Oblak will be rushing to kick this one out.

Min 89 | Yellow card for Koke now as he takes too long to take the free.

Atletico Madrid substitution: Carrasco is replaced by Gimenez.

Min 88 | Carvajal booked for a very cynical and clear pull back on Correa. Ramos ran into him, by accident, to really finish him off.

Min 85 | GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! Griezmann goal. What a lovely finish. Correa puts him through and with lots to do, he sends it beyond Navas.

Min 85 | Carrasco beats Marcelo but his cross is a daisy-cutter along the ground.

Min 82 | Atletico have run out of options out front. It is going to take a moment of magic from someone not for them to score. 

Real Madrid substitution: Lucas Vazquez replaces Gareth Bale.

Min 79 | Atletico trying their best to create something but Real Madrid closing down all options. They have plenty of possession down the flanks but Real Madrid giving them absolutely nothing.

Atletico Madrid substitution: Thomas enters the fray as Torres leaves it.

Real Madrid substitution: Toni Kroos makes way for Isco.

Min 76 | Some decent possession now for Atletico. It results in a cross by Juanfran but Ramos gets his head to it and clears for a throw.

Min 74 | Griezmann with an absolute sublime chilena. Navas saves but he was offside anyway. That would have been a shoe-in for goal of the season.

Min 73 | Benzema gets a cross in that goes over Ronaldo. He leaves it to an incoming Marcelo but his shot on the volley goes over the bar.

Min 71 | Kroos down now after Gabi goes in from behind, wins the ball, but did so in an illegal fashion. Ramos having a chat with the ref to see what he can do for him regarding a yellow. Ref tells Ramos he can't help him this time.

Min 70 | Ball in over the top by Ronaldo, but it's cleared. Real Madrid not stopping today. Atletico continue to struggle. 

Min 68 | Benzema has a shot but it's blocked by Juanfran. He had his arms tucked in but the Bernabeú wants a penalty, the referee nowhere even close to being convinced.

Real Madrid substitution: Nacho on for Pepe. The knock he took earlier just too much for him to continue. Definitely a sore one.

Min 63 | Real Madrid cough it up and Griezmann gets it out wide. He manages to flick it back towards an Atletico player but two Real players collide, Kroos and Pepe, and the referee halts play. Looked like a knee to Pepe's ribs.

Atletico Madrid substitution: Angel Correa replaces Saúl as Simeone decides it's time to push further forward.

Min 61 | Godín booked for pulling Bale down after he lays the ball off. Free to Real Madrid in a very dangerous position. Bale fancies it but it hits the wall and falls to Real Madrid again. They attack again.

Min 60 | Carrasco feeds Torres, who is one-on-one with Navas but the Costa Rican gets down well and saves.

Min 59 | The ball bounces up lovely to Saúl, who says he'll have a go, and it slices off Pepe's head. Keylor Navas equal to it.

Min 58 | Free to Atletico as Filipe Luis is fouled by Modric. They can't seem to hold the ball for longer than five seconds.

Min 56 | Simeone pondering things on the sideline. He needs his side to affect change here or else he will have to make a change. The problem is, his options are weakened with no Gameiro and Gaitan to turn to.

Min 55 | Real Madrid spring to life now. Bale crosses and as his cross is half-cleared, it falls to Carvajal. He whips a shot towards the goal but it goes just over.

Min 52 | GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! Pepe headers home the free from Kroos. Looks as though it was Juanfran who got flat-footed by the defender! Great finish.

Min 52 | Saúl booked for a hand ball out the field as Carvajal looks for Bale with a though ball. Kroos stands over it.

Min 51 | Atletico sloppy at the back and give it away with poor passing but Real Madrid can't capitalise and Gabi clears.

Min 50 | Carvajal tries one this time but his cross is to nobody and Atletico happy to let it roll over the line. Real Madrid applying more and more pressure as this one continues.

Min 48 | Again! Ball comes across to Ronaldo, he headers it back towards goal and Benzema has to just finish but Oblak saves well as he throws himself at it. 

Min 47 | Marcelo drops one right onto Ronaldo's head but it goes just wide. Another chance falls his way. He is looking dangerous today.

Min 46 | We are back underway for the second 45 in the Madrid Derby.

No changes for either side.

Real Madrid 0-0 Atletico: first half summary

Both managers will be both pleased and a little upset with how the first half went. Simeone has to be the happier at the moment though. His side have created more out of less than Real Madrid. They have had their chances though

Ronaldo had a good effort early on as well as the one that was cleared off the line. Benzema had a good chance too but Oblak was equal to it. Up the other end, Koke's cross to Saúl nearly snuck inside the post while Griezmann had a very decent effort after a gaffe from Ramos. 

You can tell that both sides are relatively nervous and with what is on the line for Real Madrid, it is understandable and given Atletico's status as underdogs, they will be happy with a draw. 

Bale has been anonymous for Real Madrid and while changes are not anticipated at half-time, Zidane won't want to wait too longer before looking to his bench in an effort to change the pace of this one in his side's favour.

Real Madrid 0-0 Atletico: first half

HT at the Santiago Bernabeú.

Min 44 | Marcelo has a cross from the left but it goes high and over the bar. Could have crept in and Oblak was right to be alert.

Min 42 | Ronaldo takes a touch and tries to beat a defender but he hits the ground. Referee says no free. Godín just stood his ground.

Min 40 | Carrasco tries to buy himself a yard as he eyes up Carvajal but the Spanish defender keeps tabs on the Belgian as he puts it out for a goalkick with a poor touch.

Min 40 | Gabi whips a cross in and Godín gets a head to it but it goes wide.

Min 38 | Ramos gives the ball away with a slack pass at the back and it's Griezmann versus Pepe in a one-on-one. Griezmann lets fly with a shot and Navas makes a really good save and puts it out for a corner.

Min 37 | Torres is pulled back by Casemiro and he gets a yellow card for his effort. He really isn't happy with that one and from the replay, you can see his point. 

Min 35 | Carrasco has a shot that falls to Torres but he can't control it. Saúl pulls Kroos down and Real Madrid start again.

Min 33 | Atletico under increasingly more pressure. Ronaldo wins a corner now as the Bernabeú comes to life. Ronaldo has a word with the ref about a foul earlier by Filipe Luis.

Min 32 | And now it is Bale's turn. His effort is saved by Oblak.

Min 30 | Chance of the game! Modric dives in front of a pass and intercepts. He plays it out wide to Ronaldo, who fires beyond Oblak but Savid headers it off the line. What a chance. Ronaldo can't believe his luck.

Min 28 | Ronaldo and Benzema link up well inside Atletico's box. Benzema has time for a shot but Oblak boxes it over. Reall good chance for Real Madrid as Savic got lose trying to keep track of the Frenchman.

Min 27 | Casemiro with a failed attempt to bring it down, or clear it, I'm not sure which one. It falls to Saúl, who has an effort that is nowhere near the target.

Min 26 | Bale runs at Atletico and thinks about a shot before half-heartedly flicking it into the box. Atletico comfortable.

Min 24 | Ball in over the top sees Saúl in pursuit but Carvajal has a step on him and he sees it out over the line. Not before the Atletico midfielder can have a go at getting it, to no avail.

Min 21 | Ramos looks for a shout from a fellow Real Madrid defender that never comes and he just puts the ball out for a throw. Carrasco then kicks it off him for a corner. The initial corner is beat back out to Koke, who swings it back in to Griezmann. It is just slightly too high for the striker and Navas boxed the ball clear.

Min 20 | Casemiro pulls Godín to the ground from a Real Madrid corner and the referee whistles for a free to the defender. 

Min 19 | Atletico break with Carrasco down the right. He steps inside Marcelo, shoots with his left - a very tame effort - and Griezmann stops it before turning and shooting. He was offside though. Close call there (not the offside, it was well offside) for Real Madrid.

Min 18 | After a blocked effort from distance earlier, Modric goes back again and tries another one. This one makes it further and looks like it is on target but is deflected out for a corner.

Min 17 | Gabi steps into Kroos now and gives away a free. He is not happy but replays show that he did catch him late. Ronaldo lining it up. He looks like he is going to shoot but clips it into the box instead and it is headered away.

Min 15 | Real Madrid's first real sniff at goal and it falls to Ronaldo, as he steps inside Juanfran and drives a shot down low to Oblak's right. Save.

Min 15 | Good pressure on Atletico by Modric and Carvajal and they win a throw high up the field but Modric misses a beat and passes it out over the sideline.

Min 13 | Carrasco with a foul now on Casemiro as he pushed him in the back as the Brazilian is passing and is off balance. No card but ref says no more.

Min 12 | Ramos with his second foul in a minute. This time it's on Carrasco and little doubt over this one. He steps on his foot. Griezmann with the free, that he opts to cross into the box, but Real Madrid clear.

Min 11 | Ramos penalised now for a foul on Torres. He feels hard done by and it looks like it might have been. Just a clumsy collision really.

Min 10 | Carrasco finds himself in oceans of space on the right and he swings it across the box. torres sliding in but just a half a metre shy of getting contact on that one.

Min 9 | High, searching cross from the right into Ronaldo but Oblak eats out on those kind of crosses.

Min 7 | Griezmann headers it down to Torres, who takes it down and tries to put it through to Carrasco. He overhits it and Ramos sees it out over the endline with Carrasco in chase.

Min 6 | Modric turned upside down with a challenge from Gabi but he gets no free. the Croatian can't understand that one. Might be a sign that the ref is going to let things flow a little bit.

Min 4 | Benzema drifting out to the right now and taking on Savic. The defender gets a foot in to disrupt him and he puts it out for a corner. Ramos tries a chilena from the resulting set-piece but it is blocked.

Min 2 | After a couple of minutes, literally, of Real Madrid possession, Real Madrid win it back and los Blancos fans at the Bernabeú whistle Atletico on the ball. Foul on Filipe Luis gives Atletico a free from the right. Koke to whip it in. He does and Saúl gets his head to it but it sneaks just wide. He looked to have Keylo Navas beaten there if it was on target.

Min 1 | Carrasco has started on the right and will be up against Marcelo. Koke versus Carvajal on the other side.

Min 1 | We have action at the Bernabeú.

Real Madrid vs Atletico: team news

Real Madrid XI: Navas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Juanfran, Godín, Savic, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Koke, Saúl, Carrasco, Griezmann, Torres.

Real Madrid vs Atlético live stream: latest news

16:13 | Both captains, Ramos and Gabi up for the toss now. We are just moments from lift-off.

16:11 | A massive tigo is unveiled by Real Madrid fans that says "the throne is ours". They are certainly not lying as they are sitting pretty at the top of LaLiga.

16:09 | Just a few minutes out now as the teams wait in the tunnel before emerging to a lively atmosphere in the Bernabeú. Lovely hug for Saúl from Morata.

16:01 | Sergio Ramos trying a few shots from outside the box. Probably best for Real Madrid if concentrates on the eight yards in front of the goal from set-pieces. He has been lethal this year and scored seven in 20 games for los Blancos. That's a good rate of scoring for a striker never mind a central defender! Pepe Reina of Napoli said after his side went crashing out of the Champions League, that Ramos is impossible to defend against.

15:54 | Atletico don't really have as much to lose. They are out of the title race and Sevilla seem to have fallen so far off the pace that they won't be troubling Atletico for the third place. It's a dangerous position to find Simeone's players in. 

15:46 | Zinedine Zidane said, during his presser yesterday that "I know this club, I know what comes with being Real coach, for good and bad. I only talk about the next game; that's the way it'll be until my final day as coach here." He understand the fine margins between success and failure and wants to make sure that he keeps both his feet and the players feet on the ground. They are in pole position in the league but a slip up today could cause uncertainty.

15:42 | Real Madrid jog onto the field now as they get ready to warm-up. Atletico Madrid just behind them. That pitch looks like one of those fancy carpets you get in IKEA - glorious. One of the higher end ones.

15:35 | A piece taking a look at the derby team news with neither team picking a team with any surprises in it.

15:33 | Asensio has not been named on the bench but James Rodriguez, who continues to court speculation about his future after his brief tirade after the Leganés game. He could infleunce things today but it is interesting to see if Zidane turns to him if Real Madrid are in need. Reports recently suggest that the club are at their wit's end with the Colombian but do not want to send him to the very fringes of the squad for fear of his market value decreasing. 

15:30 | The middle of the field will also be fascinating to watch. Gabi and Saúl will be manned with the task of keeping an eye on Kroos and Modric. The former will probably push furthest forward while Modric will remain closer to Casemiro. He has not finished a whole bunch of games this season and did not start against Leganés during the week. There have been concerns over his fitness and form but given his pedigree, it would be unwise to underestimate his importance in a fixture of this magnitude.

15:27 | The battle for the middle will surely be important, the full-backs for both teams will hold massive importance. It is Filipe Luis, who was exceptional against Málaga midweek, versus Bale and Juanfran versus Ronaldo. Marcelo and Carvajal will have a slightly easier task minding Carrasco, who tends to drift inside and Koke, who does the same and is more defensively-minded. That being said, Koke will be watching Marcelo like a hawk and making sure he does not influence the game.

15:23 | As Dermot Corrigan points out on Twitter, this is the first derby today for Ricardo de Burgos. At 31, the Bilbao native is younger than Pepe, Cristiano, Gabi, Juanfran, Torres and Godín.

15:21 | There is a real chance that Atletico, with Griezmann and torres in such good form, can trouble Real Madrid today. Real Madrid though, have not been held scoreless in more than a year so Atletico will need to score at least once, you would imagine. 

15:14 | Ramos and Pepe have started six games this season together at the back. They have kept just one clean sheet in those six games, against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, when they won 0-2.

15:09 | The team news is in and the teams are very much as expected. The two sides line up in almost identical ways that they did in Milan last May. The only difference for Atletico is that Augusto Fernandez is out and Carrasco plays.

15:03 | The football Gods have been kind to us with this match-up and the circumstances that surround it - i.e anything other than a win for Real Madrid leaves them in a precarious situation in LaLiga - but Mother Nature has been kind too. It is 20 degress in Madrid today with barely a cloud in the sky. There's a slight breeze but the conditions are ideal for football.

14:55 | No team news just yet but we are expecting them soon. We will also get the chance to analyse what ways the two teams set up along with some of the more interesting battles in the line-ups. In the mean time, you can have a read of the opinion piece by As editor, Alfredo Relaño, as he takes a look at Zidane and the BBC versus Simeone and the old guard.

14:35 | That was a time when Atletico were toying with Koke as the anchor in midfield. The game completely passed him by that day and Isco totally controlled it for Real Madrid. Since then, Koke has been pushed out wide again and Atletico seem to have restored their balance in midfield. They have become more defensive but with Antoine Griezmann scoring five in the last six games, you can afford to be more defensive. The problem starts when he is not on form. 

14:26 | Real Madrid have only won two of their last 12 games against Atletico (not including the Champions League final, which ended in a draw) but those two victories have been very recent. One was earlier in the season and the other was in 2015. Zidane seems to know how to beat Atletico as he showed in the Calderón in November. That was possible one of the most comprehensive performances and victories this season. On the flipside, it was probably Atletico's worst.

14:16 | Some really interesing statistics floating around today. Real Madrid have beaten Atletico more times than they have any other LaLiga opponent. On 86 occasions, the rojiblancos found themselves on the losing end of a Madrid derby. That hegemony Real Madrid enjoyed has been broken up in recent times since the, arguably, greatest manager Atletico have ever had in Diego Pablo Simeone.

14:06 | Real Madrid fans have spoken and they want Keylor Navas dropped along with Bale for the game this afternoon. The lack of faith in Navas has been prevelant for some time now and David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois have been linked with the club this summer. Bale though, is a relatively new one. He is just back from injury, a long-term ankle problem, and admittedly has not set the world on fire since his return but he is working hard down the right-hand side. I know you want more than "hard work" from your superstar attacker but he is slowly but surely growing back into his old self. 

13:55 | There have been some incredible meetings between these sides in the past. Check out our gallery of the best bits. 

13:46 | One question we didn't think we'd be asking coming into the derby was if Felipe Luis could score in his third consecutive game, but that's exactly what could happen.

13:28 | The forward and back lines of the Madrid sides highlight a key difference in their performances this year. Los Blancos have scored 78 against the 55 of Atleti however Simeone's side has only conceded 23 goals, the least in the division and seven fewer than their neighbours.

13:10 | Keylor Navas is under the spotlight after an indifferent season in many people's eyes. And there are not many opportunities left for him to impress.

12:52 | The players should have just finished their pre-game meal, which was scheduled for 12:15. Next up is the tactical chat around 14:00.

12:35 | Someone who is very much looking forward to today's game is Spanish-based reporter, Sid Lowe, especially with Atlético's recent resurgence under Simeone. A great read ahead of the game.

12:02 | With virtually a full squad to choose from (only Varane missing) could Zidane start with the same XI that he did in the 2016 Champions League final, against Atleti, for those that may have forgotten?

11:47 | Some people had suggested that Fernando Torres was finished at the top level but El Niño is still contributing to the Rojiblancos. He's been talking about his first Bernabéu goal.

11:18 | For those interested, the Oracle as AS English gave a quick polish of the crystal ball before this weekend's fixtures and came up with this set of predictions.

10:23 | Barcelona will be keeping a close eye on the derby ahead of their evening game in Málaga but manager Luis Enrique didn't seem that fussed. Siesta's are important in Spain.

09:54 | Wondering how you can see or listen to the game? Here's our usual guide although not one of these options allows you to interact, politely or otherwise, with our Robbie, who'll be tapping away his words of wisdom throughout the game.

09:33 | Breaking news: in what must be an incredible coincidence with today being the derby, French outlet L'Equipe have said Griezmann is Real Madrid's big transfer target.

09:02 | With Madrid into the Champions League quarter finals and with the Liga title in their own hands, you wouldn't think that there'd be any uncertainty over Zidane's future but...

08:50 | Real Madrid have pretty decent home form coming into this game. In their last 20 games in LaLiga they have drawn three...winning the other 17.

08:09 | Check out our preview below for a little background into how both teams and managers come into this match. One thing we've been discussing is whether Zidane will put out his Champions League 2016 final side.

08:05 | What a beautiful Madrid morning to get set for the big derby and as well as team news - which we'll bring you here as soon as the sheets are handed over - there are plenty other side stories and insights into both camps that will keep you informed and, hopefully, entertained right up to kick off.

Real Madrid vs Atlético live online: match preview

April sees LaLiga teams busy with fixtures galore and for those still involved in the latter stages of the Champions and Europa League this means squad depth comes into play in a big way. Both Madrid sides are looking to reach an incredible third final in the continent's premier club competition in Cardiff next month but the focus today is all about the league title. Next week's Uefa quarter finals can be briefly put to the back of the mind as the local rivalry takes centre stage.

Zinedine Zidane should be feeling confident coming into the derby between Spain's capital sides. His team sits top of the league - two points better off than serious title rivals Barcelona and with a game in game - and he has a full squad to choose from with the exception of Raphael Varane. A midweek game against lowly Leganés allowed the French coach to leave out his big-name stars meaning they will be fresh coming into this match. But even with all these factors in Zidane's favour, confidence levels may well be wavering.

All the signs point to a return to the starting line-up of the BBC - Bale, Benzema and Cristiano - but to most of those who watch Los Blancos on a regular basis, it's a trio that is not functioning the way it used to. And with rotation being forced upon Zidane at times this year, the fringe players coming in, with Isco and Asensio standing out, have demonstrated a greater unity, allowing for more fluidity and control. But big games call for big players, and the Bernabéu crowd will be cheering for their heroes of the past to step up when it counts...at least for a while. 

Player to watch: Gareth Bale - the Welshman is due a big game and will want to prove some of his recent doubters wrong. If he can show the desire and effort that he has demonstrated in bursts, he could be the difference.

Atlético

The Rojiblancos have had a mixed season but as we enter the final stretch they find themselves in third position, ahead of a Sevilla side that had been pushing the big two until a recent slump. Diego Simeone's side have a good recent record against their noisy neighbours and will not feel like plucky underdogs hoping for some luck as they have done on these visits in the past. They seem to have found their feet in the league, and will aim to push on till the end, while have an interesting Champions League quarter final to look forward to against Premier League champions Leicester.

A win against their city rivals not only gives their fans the important bragging rights for a while, but also dents the hopes of Los Blancos winning the title. Many of their supporters may not enjoy seeing Barça lift the trophy but anything is better than seeing the mob across town do so. Kevin Gameiro is going to be missing for Simeone but he is likely to name the same team that won comfortably last time out. 

Player to watch: Jan Oblak - Atlético will have their chances at the other end, and have key attacking players that may take the limelight, but if their solidity at the back can be maintained, and the Slovenian can do what no goalkeeper has done in over 50 games, three points are likely to be taken away from the Bernabéu.

Real Madrid are slight favourites for the game according to the bookies to take the three points with odds around evens if you fancy that. An Atlético win at the Bernabéu would pay out almost four times your stake while the first scorers market offers Griezmann at 6/1. You may also predict a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick like the Calderón fixture and that is priced at 16/1.

Bet on Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid now

Real Madrid - Atletico Madrid live stream online: build up