This will be decided 14km east in eight days’ time when Madrid’s rivals are sent back into battle once more. On a night that lacked a little thunder but had three superb goals – Rodrygo Goes, Julián Alvarez and Brahim Díaz all stepping inside to bend the ball beyond outstretched fingers and into the far corner – the Euro derby delivered a 2-1 victory for Real but no definitive conclusion.
Atlético host the second leg with optimism still; Real go to the Metropolitano with the small advantage Carlo Ancelotti requested of his players. “We could not have expected to end it here but that gives us hope,” he said.
