Real Madrid defeated city rivals Atlético Madrid for the first time in eight meetings this season to advance to the semifinals of the Champions League with a 1-0 victory in the quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday night at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
Chicharito Hernández was the hero for Los Blancos with a goal in the 88th minute to hand the 10-time European champions a 1-0 victory on aggregate against an Atlético side that ended with ten men after Arda Turan was sent off in the 75th minute.
The defensive resistance from Atlético could only last for so long as Chicharito finally scored the most precious of goals for Real in the 88th minute
Facing a slew of injuries and the suspension of Marcelo, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti made the dramatic pre-game decision to push Sergio Ramos forward into midfield to play alongside Toni Kroos, James and Isco as part
of a four-man midfield.
of a four-man midfield.
Little-used Chicharito Hernández was the beneficiary of the injuries to Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema and got the nod up top with Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, in defense, with Ramos play in an advanced role, Pepe and Raphael Varane anchored in as center backs with Dani Carvajal and Fabio Coentrao- in place of Marcelo -- as fullbacks in front of goalkeeper Iker Casillas to round out Real's 4-4-2.
Atlético manager Diego Simeone continued with first leg hero Jan Oblak in goal and the Slovenian was protected by a back four of Juanfran, João Miranda, Diego Godín and Jesús Gámez. Saúl and Arda Turan were flanked out wide on the wings, while Koke and Tiago manned the central part of the Atletico midfield behind strikers Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann.
After a tense feeling out period in the first ten minutes, Real were the team that started coming up with the first chances of the match, notably a Ronaldo shot that skipped just wide on 13 minutes.Casillas was not called into action until the 29th minute when he went low to save a Gámez shot from outside the area. But generally through the first half hour the match was to Atlético's liking, a feisty and physical battle that saw Real sloppily give away possession numerous times.
Chicharito came close with a 31st minute header that glanced just wide, and then a minute later a Ronaldo free kick effort from 35 yards out drew a big save from Oblak. But the best chance of the first half for either team came just a minute before the break when Tiago played a poor pass that was intercepted by Carvajal, who then played a quick ball to Ronaldo but the shot from the Portuguese from close-range was blocked by Oblak.
kick effort from 35 yards out drew a big save from Oblak. But the best chance of the first half for either team came just a minute before the break when Tiago played a poor pass that was intercepted by Carvajal, who then played a quick ball to Ronaldo but the shot from the Portuguese from close-range was blocked by Oblak.
There would be no miracle finish for Atlético, as once again it was Real getting the best of their neighbors on the biggest of stages.
Simeone made a change at halftime bringing on Gabi for Saúl, but it was still Real on the front foot to begin the second stanza with Isco finding Chicharito, but the Mexican forward sent his 49th minute shot just wide. Real continued to crowd the Atlético area and won a few corner kicks with Varane coming close on a 59th minute header, but Oblak was there to corral it without any problems. Oblak was then called into action again in the 62nd minute when Ronaldo whipped a ball into the area for Ramos who headed right at the Slovenian.
The second Atlético change came in the 65th minute and it certainly raised a few eyebrows as club leading scorer Griezmann made way for Raúl García. Four minutes later a Koke header was the first scoring chance for the guests, but it proved to be no problem for Casillas.
leading scorer Griezmann made way for Raúl García. Four minutes later a Koke header was the first scoring chance for the guests, but it proved to be no problem for Casillas.
However, it was a Turan challenge on Ramos in the 75th minute that changed the course of the match, as the Turkey international's foul ended in a second yellow for the Atlético man and reduced Simeone's team to 10 men.
With the man advantage, the pressure from Los Blancos grew and again it was Chicharito nearly breaking the deadlock when he rolled Godín and swept a shot that looked goalward, only for Oblak to deflect it enough with his right hand to send it wide. Five minutes from time Atlético made their third and final change, with young Uruguayan center back José María Giménez replacing midfielder Tiago.
But the defensive resistance from Atlético could only last for so long as Chicharito finally scored the most precious of goals for Real in the 88th minute. James and Ronaldo played a nifty one-two combination that ended with Ronaldo dishing to Chicharito and the loanee from Manchester United fired in a shot that sent the Bernabéu into raptures.
There would be no miracle finish for Atlético, as once again it was Real getting the best of their neighbors on the biggest of stages.
Real will resume play in La Liga with a Sunday visit to Vigo to face Celta, while Atlético will continue their quest for a top-three finish on Saturday versus Elche.
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