El Derbi Madrileño: Los Blancos Still Own Madrid

 

After a disappointing weekend result, Real Madrid faced city rivals Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón this Wednesday.  The last these two teams met was November, with los Blancos winning 4-1 over Atléti.  Eerily enough, the result this time around was no different with Portuguese international, Cristiano Ronaldo, solidifying his team's victory with a hattrick, while Spanish born-and-bred, José Callejón, earned our fourth and final of the evening.

Atlético had a very great start this evening, putting los Blancos under very heavy pressure, the intensity of their play nearly paying off in the early moments of the match.  Radamel Falcao did well to break through Real's defense, but Iker Casillas tipped the ball round the post, saving the shot.  Nevertheless, the Whites seemed shaken at just how close their rivals got to opening the score sheet.  With time, the men calmed down and got back into the old swing of things, using the spaces Atléti left open, looking for opportunities for goal.  Los Rojiblancos conceded a freekick at the 24' minute mark for a foul committed on Karim Benzema.  Cristiano took the shot and successfully converted it, with an unstoppable strike to the bottom right corner.  Real Madrid entered descanso 1-nil over their rivals.

 

Falcao scored an equalizer at the 55' with a header, Adrián at the assist with a cross.  Atléti and their fans were ecstatic, however, their high came to an abrupt halt when Cristiano took advantage of their unconfident defending.  The all-star bagged a brace at the 68' with a right-footed shot to the high center of goal, Xabi Alonso at the assist.  Atléti seemed to have lost their mojo afterwards, hardly causing any trouble for los Bloncos from there on out.

 

Gonzalo "Pipita" Higuaín drew a penalty after Diego Godín shoved him in the penalty area.  Cristiano converted the penalty, earning both his and Madrid's third of the evening, with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner.  This goal would be the Portuguese international's 52^nd goal of the season.  ¡Felicidades, crack!  José Callejón, who had come on as a sub for Ángel di María at the 83', netted a fourth for Real at the 87' minute mark, polishing of a Cristiano counterattack and sent the ball to the center of goal.

Real Madrid plays Sporting Gijón next this Saturday, April 14, at the Santiago Bernabéu in La Liga.  Until then, ¡Hala MadridI

written by Gail Hidalgo