Kylian Mbappé made an impact in his first Madrid derby against Atletico, scoring the equalizer in Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite falling behind to a Julián Álvarez penalty in the 35th minute, Madrid fought back through Mbappé’s strike in the 50th minute.
The result allowed Madrid to maintain its slim one-point lead over Atletico in the La Liga standings. Jude Bellingham came close to securing all three points for Madrid, but his header struck the crossbar, while Jan Oblak made several key saves to deny Madrid’s attacking trio.
Real Madrid entered the match with a makeshift defense due to injuries, forcing Carlo Ancelotti to field an unorthodox backline. Atletico took advantage, with Antoine Griezmann orchestrating the attack and Álvarez converting a penalty after Aurélien Tchouaméni fouled Samuel Lino.
Atletico had further chances, but miscontrol from Álvarez and Lino prevented them from extending their lead. Coach Diego Simeone admitted that while a draw was a fair result, his team could have capitalized on its opportunities for a better outcome.
Real Madrid’s Second-Half Fightback
Madrid responded strongly after halftime, with Rodrygo setting up the equalizer by dribbling past defenders and feeding Bellingham, whose deflected shot fell to Mbappé for a clinical finish. With Atletico unsettled, Madrid pushed for a winner, with Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham coming close. However, Oblak produced a series of saves to preserve the draw. Ancelotti acknowledged the competitiveness of the league, predicting a tight title race until the final stretch of the season.
Mbappé Scores in First Madrid Derby (Real Madrid)With a crucial Champions League knockout match against Manchester City approaching, Ancelotti suggested he might rotate his squad. Changes in midfield seem likely, with Eduardo Camavinga or Luka Modric potentially replacing Dani Ceballos. Defensive options remain limited, leaving Ferland Mendy as the most viable reinforcement. Before kickoff, former Madrid defender Marcelo was honored after announcing his retirement, marking an emotional moment for the club.
Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo Secure Key Wins
Elsewhere in La Liga, Oihan Sancet starred with a hat trick in Athletic Bilbao’s 3-0 win over Girona, extending their unbeaten run to 14 matches. The victory brought Bilbao within a point of third-placed Barcelona. In a thrilling encounter, Celta Vigo came from two goals down to defeat Real Betis 3-2, with Javi Rodríguez and Williot Swedberg completing the comeback after Antony’s first goal for Betis.
In Villarreal’s 2-1 victory over Las Palmas, players and fans paused in the 20th minute to applaud Kirian Rodríguez, who announced he would step away from football to undergo cancer treatment. The emotional tribute highlighted the solidarity within the Spanish football community as players and fans showed their support for the Las Palmas midfielder in his battle against illness.
