Real Madrid emerged winners in the first Derbi Madrileno of this season as they met heavy resistance from a hard-working Atletico Madrid in a fiery game tonight. Ricardo Carvalho opened the scoring in the early in the first half and Mesut Oezil added a second shortly after to give Los Blancos a two-goal cushion at half-time. There were no more goals after the break and the game ended 2-0.Real Madrid started the game with attacking intent and tried to impose their style in the early minutes of the first half. Sami Khedira got the ball in the net in the seventh minute, but it was ruled out for offside. A goal for Los Blancos, however, was to come shortly.
The go-ahead strike came from an unlikely source in the face of Ricardo Carvalho, who scored his second of the season with a good finish from inside the box in the 13th minute, following a deflected through-ball by Angel Di Maria. This goal gave the hosts even bigger urge in attack and it seemed like another one is coming soon.
Six minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo fell softly for a free-kick on the right-hand side of the box, and from a seemingly harmless position, Mesut Oezil scored with a precise low shot in the left corner to double Los Blancos' lead.
Atletico Madrid managed to pick themselves up after the second goal and created a few good chances. In the 30th minutes Atletico Madrid had valid reasons to demand a penalty after a handball by Xabi Alonso in the box, but the referee was having none of it. Tomas Ujfalusi missed on good chance to score with a header in the 32nd minute and moments latter Jose Antonio Reyes forced Iker Casillas into a marvellous save.
There were no more goal in the first half, however, as Los Blancos entered half-time with a two-goal lead.
The second half got off to a stunning start as Gonzalo Higuain hit the post with a sweet volley moments after the restart. Real Madrid continued to dominate the game for the next ten minutes or so, but Atletico Madrid had not surrendered just yet.
Diego Forlan hit the post with a glorious volley in the 59th minutes as Los Colchoneros were pumping bodies forward. The ever-active Sergio Aguero was giving Real Madrid's defence some troubles, but looked too selfish and was lacking in his final ball. Juan Valera and Jose Antonio Reyes tried their luck from distance in the following minutes, but could not quite hit the target.
Near the eighty-minute mark Sergio Aguero was presented with a glorious chance on the break, but his low finish did not trouble Iker Casillas. Real Madrid were dealt a serious blow in the 82nd minute when Ricardo Carvalho was forced to leave the pitch with a nasty cut under his left eye. Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema had a chance each to make it three for Los Blancos in the remaining minutes, but could not add to the hosts' tally as the game finished 2-0.
Following tonight's result, Real Madrid are first in the standings, while Atletico Madrid are seventh. Los Blancos' next league game is a visit to Sporting de Gijon on 14th November, while Los Colchoneros host Osasuna on the same day.
