Real Madrid 4 : 1 Atletico de Madrid - Real claim derby spoils

Posted Saturday, November 26, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid consolidated their place at the top of the Primera Division with a 4-1 victory over neighbours Atletico in an eventful derby at the Bernabeu.

Atletico had not beaten their city rivals for 12 years coming into the match, but a change of fortunes seemed on the cards when Adrian Lopez fired them in front.

However, the dismissal of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after 20 minutes turned the game on its head, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice from the penalty spot while Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain also found the back of the net.

The late dismissal of Diego Godin further added to Atletico's misery as they finished the match with nine men.

Sami Khedira fired over the bar and Karim Benzema pushed a shot past the right post as Real tried to make their home advantage count in the early stages.

But they found themselves trailing after 15 minutes when Diego picked out Adrian with a lovely pass which the striker planted into the bottom left corner.

Their joy lasted just five minutes before Courtois was shown a red card for upending Benzema in the area.

Diego was taken off the field to make way for replacement goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, whose first job was to pick Ronaldo's spot-kick out of the net.

That sparked a spell of Real pressure in which Benzema volleyed over the bar from 12 yards and Ronaldo drilled a shot past the right post as Atletico clung on.

Alvaro Dominguez gave the visitors a slight lift before the interval with a header from Gabi's corner which just cleared the bar.

But Real's second-half response was ruthless.

Di Maria fired them in front within four minutes of the restart, putting the finishing touch to a pass from Ronaldo with a left-footed drive high into the net.

Higuain breached Atletico's defence again after 65 minutes, striking low into the net from 12 yards out.

Asenjo did well to get his hands to a stinging shot from Benzema to prevent his side falling further behind soon after.

But Atletico shot themselves in the foot once more eight minutes from time when Godin was given his marching orders for a challenge on Higuain.

Ronaldo stepped up to take his second penalty of the night, placing it in the bottom left corner to wrap up a comprehensive win.