Real Madrid showed why they are Liga champions with a convincing 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid in the derby on Saturday to end the pacesetters’ unbeaten start to the league season, reports Reuters.
Real deservedly took the lead in the 15th minute when Casemiro headed home from a corner, leaving Atletico behind for the first time in their 11th league game of the season.
Dani Carvajal put Zinedine Zidane’s Real side further at ease with a stunning strike in the 63rd minute which came off the post and into the net off keeper Jan Oblak for an own goal.
Atletico still lead the standings on 26 points, while Real climbed to third and closed the gap on their city rivals to three points, although Diego Simeone’s side have a game in hand.
The result also means second-placed Real Sociedad can reclaim top spot if they beat Eibar on Sunday.
Atletico were utterly outplayed by champions Real and did not have any attempts on goal in the first half, while they failed to even manage a shot on target until the 80th minute, when Saul Niguez’s header was saved by Thibaut Courtois.
“We went all out to win the game from the start, we drowned them in their own half,” said Carvajal.
Atletico captain Koke added: “They played much better than us, they were more intense and we were not ourselves in the first half.
“We took a step forward in the second half and had a great chance to score but football is all about the little details.
“Now we need to move on, it’s a long season and we need to stay near the top of the season.”
