PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP
At the end of a derby full of twists and turns, the Colchoneros beat Real Madrid (4-2) after extra time this Thursday evening.
At the end of extra time, and once again thanks to the irresistible Antoine Griezmann, Atlético Madrid beat their rival Real (4-2) and won the last ticket for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey . After the Wanda Metropolitano’s tribute to “Grizou” – the only top scorer in the club’s history (175 goals) for eight days – this Madrid derby offered, unsurprisingly, an intense and balanced duel. In this little game, the Merengue showed themselves to be dangerous first. Jude Bellingham, after a festival in the opposing defense, found the crossbar (19th) then Rodrygo and Vinicius came up against a big Jan Oblak (21st).
Real seemed to have the upper hand but were surprised on a seemingly innocuous ball. Deflected by Rüdiger’s head, De Paul’s wrapped cross benefited Samuel Lino, a surface fox at the far post (1-0, 40th). Atlético, efficient, took the lead but faltered… Imperial so far, Oblak missed his aerial exit from a free kick from Modric, offering Real the equalizer with an own goal just before the break (1-1 , 45+1e). A logical but frustrating score for Diego Simeone’s men, who would continue their mano a mano with those of Carlo Ancelotti after returning from the locker room.
Griezmann’s stroke of genius
On the lookout for a three-cushion billiards move (Camavinga, Lunin and Rüdiger), Alvaro Morata gave Atlético the advantage (59th, 2-1). A happy lead which held for 25 minutes, until Joselu’s header, Real’s decisive joker after a second crossbar hit by Rodrygo (76th). The 22 actors, very tense and on a physical edge, were racing into overtime. Moment chosen by the hero Griezmann to get out of his box. Discreet until now, the French international lit up the evening with a saving and above all magnificent goal, from the recovery on Vinicius to the precise finish from a tight angle (3-2, 101st). This time, it was the final blow for the Merengue, unable to come back despite two shivers in the feet of Ceballos (111th) and Rüdiger (116th). Diego Simeone’s Atlético, buoyed by his lively Wanda Metropolitano crowd, held on in the right direction, finally validated in a counter-attack by the efficiency of Rodrigo Riquelme (4-2, 119th).
Beaten in the Super Cup semi-final by their best enemy from the Spanish capital ten days ago – already in overtime (3-5) – the Colchoneros took their revenge this evening. Now in the quarter-finals, they continue their quest for the Coupe du Roi, a trophy which is missing from the list of achievements of a certain Antoine Griezmann with his favorite club.