Madrid derby suspended: Correa’s late equaliser stuns Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa scored a late equaliser in added time against Real Madrid to secure a 1-1 draw on Sunday in a tense LaLiga derby. The match was temporarily suspended for over 20 minutes after Atletico fans threw objects onto the pitch.

The game was halted in the 69th minute, just five minutes after Real Madrid defender Eder Militao scored the opening goal. Atletico supporters in the Fondo Sur section threw objects towards Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, prompting him to alert the referee.

After the lengthy delay, play resumed, and Atletico applied pressure on their rivals. They eventually found an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time when substitute Correa scored from close range following a counterattack.

Real Madrid are currently second in the LaLiga standings with 18 points, three points behind leaders Barcelona and two points ahead of Atletico Madrid, who sit in third place after eight matches.

Atletico captain Koke commented on the incident, saying, “These games are always filled with tension and intensity. It was a tense moment, but this kind of behaviour shouldn’t happen on a football pitch. We are professionals, and only a few individuals should not reflect the entire stadium.”

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti made tactical adjustments in the absence of key forward Kylian Mbappe, opting to bring in veteran Luka Modric to strengthen the midfield. This change allowed the team to dominate possession but failed to produce additional goals.

The primary challenge for Real Madrid this season has been adapting to the departure of midfield legend Tony Kroos, who retired in July after competing in Euro 2024 with Germany. With Modric ageing and Jude Bellingham playing in a more attacking role, Federico Valverde has stepped up as the playmaker in the midfield. He contributed significantly to Real’s attacking moves, often distributing the ball to Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, or Bellingham, or taking powerful long-range shots himself.