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MOTD: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid

By on April 14, 2015

Emotions were running so high that Mario Mandzukic would probably have taken off with a needle dangling from his head from the Atletico Madrid medical team had his services been urgently required while he was off receiving treatment for a cut on the forehead.  Mandzukic had to come off twice to stop the flow of blood just above his left eye stemming from an aerial challenge with (no surprise) Sergio Ramos, but such was his restlessness that in each episode it took him at least thirty seconds to come off and then was too short to have much effect.

Mandzukic needed to be doused with a bucket of water, and perhaps all twenty-two men on the pitch were in need of the same treatment.  Atletico and Real Madrid fought a frenetic, sloppy, and often spiky Champions League quarterfinal first-leg at the Vincente Calderon, but neither could break the deadlock.

Not that either side will complain too much about the result.  Atletico was under the cosh for most of the match while Real now takes a home advantage into the second leg.  Moreover, although Carlo Ancelotti’s men let Atleti off the hook by failing to the latter’s their six-match undefeated streak in the Madrid Derby, they at least turned the tables in terms of performance.  Real, the “Royals,” meddled again in the dirty affairs of Atletico, “athletic,” and reaped the rewards.  For the past few seasons, led by Diego Simeone, Atletico have played with a ferocity that many have seen as intimidating Real.  Whether that be the case — the results indicate so — or not, the Real squad stepped up to the challenge tonight.

They took the game to Atletico from the first minute, and just moments in Real tasted first blood as Dani Carvajal tested Jan Oblak with a side volley from the edge of the box.  Atletico were nervy: Diego Godin nearly caused disaster when his missed clearance allowed the ball to roll through to Gareth Bale.  Bale was in and really should have scored, but again Oblak came out to make a big save.  The Slovenian goalkeeper was Atletico’s savior throughout the first half, and neither Cristiano Ronaldo, who saw Oblak block his low, dipping free-kick nor Gareth Bale, with Oblak again getting behind the Welshman’s twenty-five yard effort, could beat the on-fire goalkeeper.  James Rodriguez’s excellent outside-of-the-boot effort from the edge of the box again tested Oblak, while Atletico’s only good chance of the first half came when Antonio Greizmann’s low side volley was saved by Iker Casillas.

Real again came bursting out of the blocks in the second half but once again Oblak was there for Atletico to stop Rodriguez’s low effort across goal from a tight angle.  Godin sliced a volley over the crossbar before Oblak blocked Toni Kross’ low twenty-five yard shot, yet neither team could break the deadlock.  Perhaps it was to be expected: they have now met seven times this season and drawn thrice.  In the league, they keep battering heads but in doing so let Barcelona edge ahead.  At least the second leg promises goals.
Man of the Match: James Rodriguez

Photo credit: Hank Loner on Flickr

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.