Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid: What Were The Main Talking Points As Los Blancos Extend On Their Remarkable Start?

With all eyes from across Europe falling on the Spanish capital on Sunday night, Real Madrid picked up local bragging rights as they landed a 2-1 victory at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Looking to lay down a real marker against their bitter rivals here, the defending Spanish champions also piled more pressure onto an Atletico Madrid side who have endured a nightmare week.

While Mario Hermoso might have pulled back a late consolation strike for Sunday’s hosts, a first-half double from Rodrygo and Federico Valverde helped Los Blancos extend on their remarkable start to the 2022/23 campaign.

Once again leapfrogging Barcelona and entering September’s international break at the top of the table, we have taken a look at the main talking points following a heavyweight showdown in the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid can make more history this season

Shocking many across Europe last season as they were crowned both domestic and European champions, there is no doubt that Real Madrid have the chance to make more history this time around.

While Los Blancos might also find Barcelona in the midst of their own domestic purple patch, Carlo Ancelotti’s superstars have continued on a remarkable start to the 2022/23 campaign.

Along with getting the defence of their Champions League title off to a winning start with back-to-back victories against RB Leipzig and Celtic, the ex-AC Milan boss has now seen his side win each of their opening eight matchups across all competitions.

Skyrocketing their way back to the top of the La Liga table on Sunday night, the Spanish icons are also the only side across Europe’s elite divisions that can boast a 100% start to the new campaign.

Although Ancelotti’s side might have been disappointed to have seen the likes of Casemiro leave the Bernabéu this summer, it certainly hasn’t slowed the defending champions down.

Heading into September’s international break in the midst of a real purple patch, Real Madrid are rightfully tipped as a standout pick to defend their domestic crown this season.

No Benzema, no problem for Los Blancos

Picking up a muscle injury away at Celtic while on Champions League duties earlier in the month, some Real Madrid fans were left wondering how Los Blancos would cope without their attacking icon.

Spearheading Ancelotti’s double-winning campaign last season and breaking a string of records in doing so, Karim Benzema has almost been the face of Madrid’s success over recent times.

However, while the French international might have once again missed out on Sunday’s 2-1 victory across the capital, they have done an impressive job of filling the 34-year-old’s void up top.

Making it three consecutive victories across all competitions while Benzema has been sat on the sidelines, Rodrygo does deserve an honourable mention for his role over recent weeks.

Doubling Madrid’s lead and eventually grabbing the winner here, the 21-year-old has now found the net in each of Los Blancos’ last three La Liga wins on the bounce.

Although the Whites might remain hopeful that Benzema will be able to make his return following the international break, Ancelotti will be glad to know that his side are not solely reliant on last season’s Golden Boot winner.

Atletico’s downbeat start continues

While Atletico might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with their sights set on mounting a genuine title charge this time around, Sunday’s hosts have endured a stuttering start.

Failing to pick up any momentum earlier in the week as they were hit with a worrying 2-0 loss away at German outfit Bayer Leverkusen, Diego Simeone’s men have the feel of a side seeking some much-needed stability.

Eventually hit with a deserved defeat here and likely to come under more scrutiny, Los Colchoneros also head into September’s international break sat down in seventh-place and someway off challenging the Spanish elite.

With their downbeat start highlighted by a 2-0 loss at home against Villarreal last month, Simeone should also have a real headache over his side’s extended problems at the back.

Including their back-to-back defeats over the past week, the former Spanish champions have failed to record a single clean sheet in any of their previous five appearances across all competitions.

Likewise, continuing on from the summer break, Atletico have also now picked up just a pair of wins from any of their last six La Liga showdowns at the Metropolitano.

Match Report:

Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Felipe, Witsel, Mandava, Llorente, De Paul, Kondogbia, Koke, Carrasco, Griezmann, Felix

Subs: Correa, Cunha, Niguez, Hemoso, Morata

Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy, Kroos, Tchouameni, Modric, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde

Subs: Rudiger, Ceballos, Camavinga, Asensio

Goals: Atletico Madrid: Hemoso (83′) – Real Madrid: Rodrygo (18′), Valverde (36′)

Yellow Cards: Atletico Madrid: Koke, Mandava, Hemoso – Real Madrid: Mendy, Carvajal

Red Cards: Hemoso

Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero