Real Madrid put in their worst performance of the season to get an embarrassing defeat against city rivals Atletico Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo had a terrible evening in his return from a two-game ban.
Los Blancos lacked intensity and made many defensive mistakes, allowing Diego Simeone men to produce a goal fest thanks to Tiago, Saul Niguez, Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic.
Atletico extended their unbeaten run against Los Merengues to six games and cut their La Liga lead to four points.
The host began the contest looking very threatening in the wings. Tiago made it 1-0 before the 15-minute mark as he caught a loose ball in the edge of the box and fired a powerful shot straight to Iker Casillas. The ball went to fast for the keeper to react and it ended on the back of the net despite Casillas’ touch.
Five minutes later, Guilherme Siqueira produced a brilliant play on the left flank and assisted Saul, who sent an acrobatic overhead shot in off the post.
The two early goals destroyed Los Merengues, who looked mentally blocked during the rest of the game. Cristiano Ronaldo lost every ball he touched and Los Blancos didn’t even shot on target during the first half.
The two-goal lead allowed the Colchoneros to focus on defending in the second half, although they looked lethal in every counter-attack. Griezmann poked Saul’s header to make it 3-0 with 67 minutes on the clock.
Carlo Ancelotti men were already eager to head to the dressing room when Mandzukic met a Fernando Torres cross and headed it for a fourth.
Barcelona can cut Real Madrid’s lead to one point if the manage to beat Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Sunday.
It’s not loosing a match that raises a concern because in football any team can loose or win. However it is how a team like Real Madrid looses against ATM that makes fans shake their heads. With all the potentials (coach, players, money, assess) on their side, the team performs so poorly in their recent matches. What a waste?….