Real vs. Atletico Madrid 1:1 – Why La Liga is thrilling...

Lights up for Football trips Real Madrid with the derby against Atlético 1:1 (0:1)! On February 8, 2025, the prospect of pushing Real from the top of the La Liga table with a win made this match clearly the match of the week for us. Tickets for the derby in Madrid are a hit in any case for this game. 

“There hasn’t been such a buzz at Atlético for a long time,” wrote the Kicker Sports Magazine (issue from February 6, 2025) about the Spanish champions of 2021.
Football trips to Real Madrid, we heard or learned before the game from Atlético’s legendary coach Diego “El Cholo” Simeone, are made by bus. The Argentinian said: “We do it the same way every time we play at Bernabeu, we go by bus.”

Why not? The stadiums of the two city and archrival teams in Madrid are only 19 minutes apart by car. 

Using public transport, you can reach the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, located further west near the Madrid Zoo Aquarium in the Chamartin district, from Atlético Madrid’s home ground in 42 minutes.

More derby doesn’t get much better than this. 

Farewell: Bernabeu celebrates a living legend

Before the game, “Los Blancos” bid farewell to a club legend, Marcelo. He played for Real Madrid from 2007 to 2022. The Brazilian (25 titles, including 5-time Champions League winner) is a player for whom people make these football trips to Real Madrid. 

And Atlético? For the “Colchoneros,” as Atlético Madrid is also known by the fans, the situation was rarely as good as before this match.

The first leg ended 1:1, meaning that Real has yet to win a big game this season – check against Atlético in La Liga, also in the Primera Division with a 0:4 loss in the “Clasico” against Barcelona (event-breaks.com reported) and a 0:2 loss against FC Liverpool in the Champions League (group stage)

Penalty helps Atlético Madrid

Atlético had the first chance, logically, through Samuel Lino (14th minute), but the ball zipped past the far post from 16 meters.

In the 35th minute, Julian Alvarez took advantage of a penalty decision made via VAR for a foul by Thibaut Courtois, scoring 1:0 for Atlético Madrid. And it wasn’t entirely undeserved. 

With this goal, Atlético jumped to the top of the La Liga table with 51 points! Argentine World Cup winner Alvarez had the chance to extend his team’s lead to 2:0 in the 40th minute…

Mbappé brings Real Madrid back

In this moment, it became clear that Real Madrid was missing three defenders: David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Antonio Rüdiger. “This situation is of course brutal,” said Austria’s football idol Herbert Prohaska in a comment in the Wiener Kronen Zeitung (issue of February 8, 2025), “nevertheless, I believe Real will get a draw at home.”

We believed so too. Because with such missed chances, you always give Real Madrid, who had no clear plan against their city rivals for a long time, another opportunity.
This was evident in the 50th minute when Kylian Mbappé scored the equalizer 1:1. It was his 16th goal of the season in his 21st La Liga match. Kudos!

That’s when the Bernabeu came alive again, and it seemed that the luck of the game was turning in favor of Real Madrid. Vinicius Junior cheered the fans up with gestures, and former BVB star Jude Bellingham (57th minute) missed a header against Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak from five meters that could have given Real the lead.

During this phase, it was only a matter of time before Real would score against the best defense in the league (15 goals conceded in 22 matches). Lucas Vasquez came close against Oblak after a free kick from Rodrygo from the left but was just a step too late.

However, Atlético Madrid held off the immense pressure and didn’t concede another goal. Julian Alvarez later said to La Liga TV: “I’m satisfied with the 1:1 because we had to suffer in the second half, but we’re still in the title race.” 

When is the return match at “El Clasico,” FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid?

On May 11, 2025, FC Barcelona will face Real Madrid, and it could also be the inaugural match of the new Spotify Camp Nou. 

When does Atlético Madrid play against FC Barcelona?

The 28th matchday on March 16, 2025 brings Atlético’s next La Liga clash, at home in the Estadio Metropolitano against “Barca”.