Real Madrid 2-1 Atlético Madrid

The Champion is already winning new hearts over. Loyal to recent tradition, the Whites had to come from behind, but now with a clear display of good football created in a midfield dominated by Guti, Robinho, and Sneidjer. Squaring off against a worthy adversary who even opened the scoreboard, Real Madrid walked away victorious thanks to goals by Raúl and Sneijder. Despite the win, the Whites deserved more goals and hushed any critics who sounded the alarm during the preseason. What a great way to kick off the campaign.

Sixty-nine days after being proclaimed the champions of the League, it was time for the 70th derby in history. Matchday 1 got of to an action-packed start and went from hot with the Madridistas welcome and presentation of last year’s trophy by Raúl to cold with the early goal by Agüero. Sticking to past tradition, a worse start to the League by the reigning champions seemed impossible with such a quick disadvantage. But based on experience, it’s safe to say that what matters isn’t how you start, but how you finish (just look back on last season). With a clear-cut gameplan, neither the fans nor the team were shaken by the scoreboard in the opponent’s favour. Guided by Guti, Madrid did what they know best: played football. They soon dominated possession and maintained constant pressure on an Atletico that had its feet glued inside its own box.

THE GAME WAS WHITE ALL OVER

The danger went from a trickle to a downpour on Leo’s goal. First came a long strike by Sneijder (min. 13), then a near miss by Robinho (14’), and finally a goal by Raúl (15’), whose excellent header did justice to what was taking place on the field of play. Madrid proved to be far superior than their rival, paying special attention to the right wing where Sergio Ramos and Robinho relentlessly gave Simao and Pernía problems. The Madridista duo were responsible for the ensuing scoring chances, first by way of a superb counter which the Brazilian sent into the stands, followed by a shot of the post by the Sevilla native. Sneijder joined in on the action with a volley from outside the box that scraped the post, and Diarra had a near miss in added time.

Four messages as clear as day for whoever was taking notes: Madrid deserved going into halftime with the lead, even against this strong-standing Atletico, perhaps the most powerful in recent years. The Madridistas’ first half was the among the best witnessed by the Bernabéu this year, and it should quiet any alarms that may have gone off during the preseason. During the moment of truth, the champions put their best feet forward, and although there is room for improvement, they gave sparkles of the tremendous potential they have to offer this year.

ONLY MISSING ONE THING: A GOAL

The second half began how the first had ended; Madrid monopolized the ball and the scoring chances. After Metzelder stepped in for Cannavaro, the game play drifted to the left wing, where Drenthe and Sneijder fired the first warning shots on Leo Franco. Atletico didn’t hold back and also sought Casillas’ net, although they couldn’t hide the fact that they were happy keeping the score just the way it was. Schuster ordered his men to take the game to the flanks, where Robinho continued offering Man-of-the-Match football and Sneijder slipped by Seitaridis time and again.

With the Dutchman and Guti side by side, Madrid’s technical qualities would mark the difference against the advesary. The former youth teamer’s brilliant free kick struck the crossbar and bounced on the goalline for match’s second save by the post. Then Diarra nearly had a repeat performance of his header against Mallorca, as the fans only grew louder and louder in support of their team. What the White brainchild didn’t control, there was Raúl with his lessons of grit and class that he continues to offer with this shirt. Everything was clicking. All that was missing was another goal.

Van Nistelrooy had his opportunity in a one-on-one which Franco managed to save. The forward, still not in perfect form, was then replaced by Saviola, Schuster’s man to break through the Red-and-White blanket defence. But the second of the night came by way of a set piece. Guti fooled the defence and enabled the shot by Sneidjer, whose goal finally tipped the scale in favour of the Whites. His strike would clinch the first victory of the season.

The Bernabéu was a wild party from there on out. The fans accompanied their team’s efforts with ‘Oles’, while Atletico gave a last ditch effort to break a streak that dates back to the last century, when they managed their last win against the Whites. The game started off poorly but ended well with promising signs of good football. This Madrid is used to giant turnarounds. And this is the best League in the world.