Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid – Betting Review
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. Atletico sat back and defended well all game. The draw won @ 3.75, though a home win was probably a little more just.
Moving onto the Asian handicap betting for this contest. As outlined in the preview, the one angle on Atletico was clearly the fact they were fresher and more prepared to put their body on the line. Real Madrid by contrast were tired and with an eye on the cup final. Atletico got the win with the +0.75 start @ 1.83.
Looking at The Under/Over goal betting last of all where, as outlined above, Real Madrid were less likely to set the world alight in this particular game. Under won @ 1.83.
Match Summary
It was honours even in the Madrid derby which for Real Madrid, could have been fatal for their title hopes but for the fact Barcelona dropped all 3 points in Almeria the following day.
Real Madrid had much more of the game but it was a very tight affair and with minimal chances of goals.
Atletico defended well and frustrated their host both before and after having Angel Correa sent off in the second period.
Real Madid actually conceded when playing ten men thanks to a set piece goal against the run of play. The host however fought back to snatch a 1-1 draw against their rivals.
Atlético were a little annoyed to concede and be deprived a shock win, but overall they were fully content to get the draw given the circumstances before and during the match. Moreover, Atletico did next to nothing offensively and never merited a lead or a win because they spent the majority on the back foot.
At the time this match ended, Ancelotti’s side would have been thinking the league was well and truly gone from their grasp. However, hopes stayed alive as Almeria beat Barcelona the following day. This meant the late and deserved Alvaro leveller for Los Blancos could yet prove vital. Fair score 1-0.
Real had started off lacking quality and couldn’t gain any momentum.
It was Atleti’s that started the better, and they saw claims for a penalty waived away after Federico Valverde accidentally handled the ball in the box.
In a half that lacked goalmouth action, it was only speculative efforts from distance that called both goalkeepers into action.
As the forgettable half ended, Diego Simeone would have been the more pleased of the two coaches going into the break. This particularly given what Real Madrid had done to Liverpool midweek.
The defending of Atletico Madrid put Real’s 5-2 win into focus however. Simeone’s side left no such spaces to be exposed compared to how the English club had approached the UCL contest.
For all their dominance and possession, the home side couldn’t unlock a well drilled Atletico defence.
From nothing, Antoine Griezmann almost broke the deadlock but his shot was just wide.
Atletico were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark after Ángel Correa was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Antonio Rüdiger.
Despite playing with a man down, Atletico scored after José María Giménez rose highest to nod Griezmann’s free kick into the net for 0-1.
Ancelotti’s side threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, and it duly arrived in the 85th minute through 18-year-old Alvaro Rodriguez.
The promising striker was outlined in our article early this month on their squad depth.
This goal made him the second-youngest goal scorer in Real Madrid’s history, in what was his maiden appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The home side couldn’t find what would have been a deserved winner late on, and so another disappointing Madrid derby ended all square at 1-1.
