Disappointment for Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso expressed disappointment following Real Madrid’s 5-2 loss to Atlético Madrid in the weekend’s eagerly awaited derby, acknowledging that the outcome was warranted after a lackluster performance from his team. The clash, held at the Metropolitano Stadium, featured a thrilling first half that ended in a 2-2 deadlock. After Robin Le Normand opened the scoring for Atlético, Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler netted for Madrid, only for Alexander Sørloth to equalize in stoppage time before halftime.
In the second half, Julián Álvarez converted both a penalty and a direct free-kick, putting Atlético firmly ahead, and a late goal from substitute Antoine Griezmann sealed Real’s first defeat of the new La Liga season.
Alonso’s Reflections
Alonso, reflecting on the match in his post-game comments, remarked, “It was a poor performance. We didn’t come together as a unit in our play, whether we were on the ball or not. It was below the standard we expect from ourselves. Although we view this game as a part of our development, we cannot offer excuses for our failure to perform. This result stings.”
Going into the derby, Real Madrid was riding high with a perfect record of six wins in the league, while Atlético had struggled for consistency, managing just one victory in their previous six matches, despite a substantial investment in player acquisitions over the summer. Alonso noted, “Our transitions were sluggish, and we struggled to regain possession in their half. We were outmatched in key battles for the ball. There are lessons to be learned, and we must take the time to address our shortcomings. We feel the weight of this loss—it affects us and our fans.”
Celebration for Atlético Madrid
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid’s manager, Diego Simeone, celebrated the victory, highlighting the importance of this match to their season ambitions. “Real Madrid is undoubtedly one of the top teams worldwide,” he stated. “We identified their weaknesses and played to our strengths. The support from our fans has been crucial, especially since we had been conceding few goals in our earlier matches.”
Simeone specifically lauded Julián Álvarez, who recently amassed five goals in just a week, including a hat trick against Rayo Vallecano. “He’s exceptional—dedicated and committed to the team’s success. We must ensure he remains with us for the long haul. I believe we are progressing well.”
Álvarez’s Significance
Álvarez stated, “This match was particularly significant for us. Understanding the derby’s importance, we really needed these three points. Earlier in the season, while we were performing well, our results weren’t reflecting that. Today, our efficiency made the difference.”
With the victory, Atlético has now collected 12 points from their opening seven matches, securing back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
