Real Madrid put Atletico in another hole in Champions League
Real Madrid are a step closer to eliminating rivals Atletico Madrid from the Champions League for the fifth time in 11 years.
Brahim Diaz skipped past defenders to deliver the winning goal in a game full of fantastic finishes at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, handing Madrid a 2-1 advantage after the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Rodrygo embarrassed Atletico full-back Javi Galan in a foot race to score the game's first goal four minutes after kickoff. Julian Alvarez restored parity with a beautiful curling strike after 32 minutes. However, Atletico couldn't build on their superior first-half possession and allowed Diaz to waltz in 10 minutes into the second to tilt the tie in Madrid's favor.
"I think we played a complete game today, (my) goal was good and it earned us the win, but it's not over," Diaz said after the match. "There's still the second leg and we have to give everything, like we did today."
Atletico must win the second leg on March 12 to have a chance of progressing.
Madrid have already beaten Atletico in the Champions League quarterfinals, semifinals, and twice in the final since their first European encounter in the 2014 showpiece event. In fact, Atletico have only ever beaten Madrid once in the Champions League, and even that result was inconsequential as it came in the second leg of their eventual semifinal elimination in 2017.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone has been at the helm for all those heartbreaking defeats. He admitted before Tuesday's match that Madrid had history on their side, but he remained optimistic that his team could compete with Los Blancos.
Compete they did in a game that didn't flare up as previous derbies had and instead provided incredible glimpses of their quality.
Diaz was the only player to be booked all match - and only for jumping into the stands to celebrate his winner.
Neither side had claimed a win against each other in regular time in their five previous meetings, with the last three ending 1-1.
Madrid and Atletico are also neck and neck in La Liga. Simeone's side sits in second, one point behind leaders Barcelona and two ahead of Madrid.
"For a moment we had the game under control, but we knew that it would not be an easy match, because they were at home and they have great players," Alvarez explained after Atletico's narrow defeat.
"But we know there are 90 minutes to go ... it's one goal, and another game, at home with our fans."