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Kylian Mbappe earned a point for Real Madrid in a cagey derby against Atletico.
One goal apiece for the big-money strikers in both teams, Julian Alvarez and Kylian Mbappe, was the highlight of a Madrid derby that failed to deliver on its promise of a fiery contest.
Set against the backdrop of a heated first leg in which Rojiblancos fans pelted food items at Thibaut Courtois, Atletico Madrid's stance against Real Madrid's referee-pressuring tactics, and of course, pole position in the LALIGA title race, tonight's contest was billed to be one for the ages, with viewers at home reclined in their seats with popcorn bowls rested on their laps, expecting drama.
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However, the game failed to live up to the hype, and even Alvarez's opener from a controversial penalty was only mildly protested by the Real Madrid cast in attendance.
Mbappe's opener came early enough in the second half for one to expect an onslaught from the hosts, but even the loud Bernabeu could not spark life into the cagey affair, with Bellingham and Vinicius the only members from the white corner bothering to throw punches.
The game ended in a draw, and neither side seemed too dissatisfied with the 'No victor, no vanquished' result. They exchanged post-match pleasantries as such: low decibeled, maybe low enough to hear chants from faraway Catalonia, region of the true winners on the night, Barcelona, whose fans were treated to the best possible outcome.
The draw meant Barcelona now have their LALIGA destinies in their hands. Victory tomorrow against Chidera Ejuke's Sevilla, and they go one point behind Atletico, and two behind the league-leading Merengues.
Key match actions
Both sides cautiously felt each other out in the opening exchanges. The only early sparks came from speculative efforts by Samuel Lino and Vinicius Junior, both of which sailed wide of the mark.
However, the game's dynamics shifted dramatically just after the half-hour mark, when referee Cesar Soto Grado awarded a contentious penalty to Atletico Madrid. Julian Alvarez kept his cool to execute a delightful Panenka.
Atletico continued to pose a threat, particularly on the counter-attack. However, Real Madrid roared back to life after the interval, with Jude Bellingham's advanced role causing problems for the Atletico defence.
After the England international’s initial effort was saved by Jan Oblak, Kylian Mbappe pounced on the rebound to level the scores. Real Madrid's momentum was now in full flow, and they almost grabbed a quickfire second, but Bellingham's header crashed against the crossbar.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, with wave after wave of attacks crashing against the Atletico defence. Oblak proved to be an immovable object, producing a string of stunning saves, including a breathtaking one-handed stop to deny Vinicius Junior.
As the clock ticked down, Real Madrid pushed for a late winner, but Rodrygo's effort whistled agonizingly wide of the post. In the end, Atletico's resilience was rewarded with a hard-earned point.
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