Morata, Griezmann too good for Real Madrid as Atletico cruise to victory in thrilling derby
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Atletico Madrid 3-1 Real Madrid || Image via @Atleti on X, formerly Twitter / PulseSports collage

Morata, Griezmann too good for Real Madrid as Atletico cruise to victory in thrilling derby

Ifeanyi Ufomadu 22:11 - 24.09.2023

Alvaro Morata scored a brace to lead Atletico to a 3-1 victory over rivals Real Madrid in the 233rd Madrid derby.

Diego Simeone's Atletico side put Real Madrid to the sword at the Wanda Metropolitano thanks to an impressive display by Alvaro Morata.

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How it happened

Atletico began the game on fire before Real could even catch their collective breathes as Samuel Lino, who was handed his first-ever La Liga start for Los Rojiblancos by Diego Simeone and made an immediate impact, cutting inside Federico Valverde and delivering a wonderful cross that Álvaro Morata clinically glanced into the bottom corner.

Alvaro Morata opens the scoring for Atletico Madrid against Real Madrid

The home side doubled their advantage 18 minutes in, as Saúl Ñíguez’s brilliant dinked cross picked out Antoine Griezmann, who headed a fine finish past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Real were stunned put jolted into action and they pulled a goal back through Toni Kroos. 

The former Bayern man cut across Marcos Llorente and fired a venomous strike out of Jan Oblak’s reach. 

Camavinga then thought he’d equalised before the break when David Alaba’s attempt hit the post and landed at his feet, but Antonio Rüdiger was adjudged to have been offside when the cross came in.

As the second half began, the visitors looked to force the issue but conceded against the run of play.

The red-hot Morata rose to meet another Saúl cross to head in his fifth goal in as many league games this season.

Jude Bellingham was kept quiet and Los Blancos failed to create enough to really trouble the Atletico backline and Simeone's men saw out the game for a sweet win.

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