Beat crosstown rivals after 14 years as Barca keep up winning momentum
Atletico Madrid’s record-setting 1-0 win over Real Madrid brought an emphatic end to their crosstown rival’s 14-year unbeaten league run in their Spanish capital derby here.
On-form Diego Costa struck in the 11th minute and not even Gareth Bale in his home debut for Madrid could help it rally. Atletico’s big win came after lionel Messi scored before being substituted due to injury to help Barcelona win 2-0 at Almeria on Saturday night.
Barcelona and Atletico set club records by staying perfect through seven rounds to start the season, opening up a five-point gap over Madrid. Messi and Diego Costa have guided their teams to their milestones and lead the league with eight goals each.
“We are having a great year and we have to keep it going,” said Atletico’s Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion, who set up Diego Costa’s goal.
“Diego Costa is in a spectacular moment. He has helped us a lot.”
Bale, Madrid’s 100-million-euro man, went on at the start of the second half, finally playing in front of his new home fans after straining his left thigh while warming up before last weekend’s match.
Yet neither the Wales winger in 45 minutes nor Cristiano Ronaldo in 90 were able to target Atletico’s goal. Atletico’s last league win against Madrid had come in 1999, and since then it had gone 23 games without a victory. But Atletico’s victory over Madrid in the same Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last May to claim the Copa del Rey had apparently given it the boost in confidence it needed to break its horrendous streak.
While Atletico squeaked out that cup win in extra time, Diego Simeone’s side simply outplayed Madrid yesterday, creating many more shots and deploying a swarming defense that kept Madrid in check until the final minutes.
Simeone pumped both fists on the final whistle as he left the dugout, deservedly satisfied with his team’s effort. “We can play better or worse, but our commitment to working hard is non-negotiable,” said Simeone. “The team is above all the rest.”
Diego Costa, who also scored in last season’s cup final, took the game’s sole goal when Filipe luis stole the ball from Madrid’s Angel Di Maria and Koke placed a throughball for his goalscorer to coolly fire it in.
As the Brazilian forward soaked up the dismay of Madrid’s supporters, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti turned away and slapped his leg in frustration.
“When things don’t go well you have to reflect on the reasons,” said Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.
“They won the derby because we lacked the efficiency from recent years, but we can’t live in the past.”
Pandev sends Napoli on top
Florence: Goran Pandev ended his recent goal drought with a first-half brace to secure a 2-0 away win at Genoa which put Napoli top of Italy’s Serie A.
Ahead of the rest of the weekend fixtures, Rafael Benitez’s side have a one-point lead on Roma and a three-point advantage on Inter Milan and Juventus.
Juventus face Torino away in the city derby late on Sunday night where Antonio Conte’s men would have to win and score several goals if they are to take command of the league. Inter face Cagliari away in one of five afternoon’s games while Roma, who began the weekend top of the table with a two-point lead on their rivals, host Bologna in the late game.
Pandev had gone nine games without hitting the net since scoring against Pescara last April.