Real Madrid kept up their impressive form under head coach Santiago Solari as goals from Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and substitute Gareth Bale earned a 3-1 derby win at 10-man Atletico, usurping their city rivals into second place in La Liga.
Brazil holding midfielder Casemiro delivered a 16th-minute scissor kick at a hostile Wanda Metropolitano, before France forward Antoine Griezmann soon burst past the offside trap – according to the video-assistant referee – and nutmegged hate figure Thibaut Courtois.
A stellar response then followed to earn a fifth-successive La Liga win and make it just the second time Atleti had conceded three or more at their new home. The electric Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior was felled by Uruguay centre-back Jose Gimenez and Ramos did the business with a penalty kick on 43 minutes.
Into the second half, Wales superstar Gareth Bale came off the substitutes’ bench and fired in a punishingly accurate low finish to move onto 100 goals for Los Blancos on 74 minutes. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was then dismissed for a second yellow card to complete Atleti’s misery.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3)
Thibaut Courtois – 6: Ex-Atleti goalkeeper kept his composure as stream of plastic rats flew onto pitch. Made one strong stop from Gimenez.
Dani Carvajal – 7: Helped ensure France left winger Lemar had another afternoon to forget in an Atleti shirt. Rattled early by ex-team-mate Morata.
Raphael Varane – 6: Couldn’t utilise his pace to snuff out Les Bleus colleague Griezmann when Atleti broke. Otherwise quiet.
Sergio Ramos – 7: Box-office stuff. Burned off by Griezmann for goal, then delivered a perfect penalty and pointed celebration.
Sergio Reguilon – 6: Another solid display from the youngster, as Marcelo watched on. Recovered from awful foul on him by Partey.
Luka Modric – 7: Kept things ticking over for Madrid, throwing cold water on the Wanda cauldron. Measured assist for Bale.
Casemiro – 8: Exemplary display by the Brazil anchor man. Scissor kick gave Real an early lead. Also led the way in tackles for his team.
Toni Kroos – 7: Mirrored performance of Modric in three-man midfield. Quality in possession shone through. Some player.
Lucas Vazquez – 5: Spooned a delightful cross from Vinicius high into the crowd. This wayward shot summed up poor performance.
Karim Benzema – 6: An artful turn on Godin in first half was worth price of attendance. First game without goal or assist in five.
Vinicius Junior – 7: Racking up the impressive displays for Real. Stood up Gimenez and drew penalty. A constant menace.
SUBSTITUTES
Gareth Bale – 7: Came off the bench and delivered a textbook Bale goal, low into the opposite corner. Then wasted chance to make it 101 Los Blancos strikes with a header.
Dani Ceballos – N/A: Little time for Spain midfielder to impress.
Mariano Diaz – N/A: Helped ex-Atleti and Real winger Solari run clock down.