Real Madrid has won the city derby against Atlético Madrid. The LaLiga league-leader won 2-0 in front of his home crowd, registering the tenth consecutive victory in official games. Real collected 42 points in the competition; Sevilla are third with 34 points and played one game less. Atlético suffered their second league defeat in a row and are fourth with 29 points.
Carlo Ancelotti made two changes in his line-up compared to the Champions League game against Internazionale (2-0 win): Karim Benzema returned after a hamstring injury and Marco Asensio also made his entrance, leaving Rodrygo and Luka Jovic on the bench . Atlético made three changes after the hard-fought victory over FC Porto (1-3). Thomas Lemar and Luis Suárez were on the bench; Sime Vrsaljko was missing due to a broken jaw.
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And who else but Karim Benzema provides the opening goal for De Koninklijke?#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #RealMadridAthletics pic.twitter.com/HXcfx5LYC1— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) December 12, 2021
The first half contained few chances, but a beautiful goal. After fifteen minutes, Asensio sent a through ball to Vinícius Júnior on the right flank, who put the ball back on Benzema with a marker. The striker suddenly took the ball out of the air and found the right corner. It was his 36th goal of the 2021 calendar year, improving his personal best for Real Madrid (35 in 2019). Atletico became very menacing once, when Thibaut Courtois narrowly saved a twisting free kick from Antoine Griezmann from the top corner, but otherwise Real Madrid were in control.
In the opening phase, Courtois paid close attention to opportunities for João Félix and Cunha, after which Real increased the margin. Again Vinicius acted as declarant. The winger moved in from the left flank and served Asensio with a low pass. While falling, Asensio slipped the ball into the left corner: 2-0. Courtois remained important in the remainder of the second half. He took the sting out of danger after a free kick by Lemar and also prevented Héctor Herrera from scoring. Atlético kept up the pressure on Real and got a number of corners, but the home side’s lead remained intact.
2-0! ?? Real strike on their first real attack after the break and it is Marco Asensio who pulls the trigger ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #RealMadridAthletics pic.twitter.com/36c0vSCsDS
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) December 12, 2021
| No. | Team | m | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 42 |
| 2 | Seville | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 34 |
| 3 | Real Betis | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 33 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 29 |
| 5 | Real Sociedada | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 29 |
| 6 | Rayo Vallecano | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 27 |
| 7 | Valencia | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
| 8 | Barcelona | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 24 |
| 9 | Espanyol | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 23 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 | -4 | 22 |
| 11 | Athletic Club | 17 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| 12 | Real Majorca | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | -7 | 20 |
| 13 | Villarreal | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 19 |
| 14 | Celta de Vigo | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -4 | 17 |
| 15 | Granada | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -7 | 15 |
| 16 | Elche | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -8 | 15 |
| 17 | Alaves | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -9 | 15 |
| 18 | getafe | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -9 | 12 |
| 19 | Cadiz | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -16 | 12 |
| 20 | Levante | 17 | 0 | 8 | 9 | -16 | 8 |