Madrid: The atmosphere was more than a little flat as 80,000 fans filed out of the Santiago Bernabeu and traipsed back down the Paseo de la Castellana, following Real’s 2-1 home defeat to Atletico in Saturday’s Madrid Derby.
Los Blancos missed the chance to move on from a humiliating 4-2 away loss to Real Sociedad in their last league encounter while Atletico continued their revenge of last season’s Uefa Champions League final defeat to Real, having already beaten their city rivals in last month’s two-leg Spanish Super Cup.
Despite a summer spending spree of €117.5 million (Dh560 million), bringing in the likes of Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Keylor Navas and Javier Hernandez — Real fans would have watched this match and realised their bid to wrestle the La Liga title back off Atletico, while defending their European crown, is anything but guaranteed this season.
While Atletico, buoyed by last season’s league title win, if not still a bit sore from their Champions League final defeat, will have gained belief from the fact that a reinforced Real, may not be as intimidating as first feared.
Even with Los Rojiblancos coach Diego Simeone in the stands serving an eight-match suspension, and with just 30 away tickets sold to Atletico supporters after a boycott over the €70 entry cost, Atletico were able to outdo Real in their own backyard.
As if symbolic of the politics surrounding the two clubs — Real being the team of former dictator Franco and the upper classes, and Atletico being the working class club born out of rebellion — a morality play of triumph over adversity unfolded with plenty of flamenco angst on Saturday.
Tiago Mendes muscled in a header from Koke’s corner after 10 minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the spot on the half-hour. Real had appeared to have regained control, and victory — it seemed — would be inevitable until a second half slump allowed Arda Turan to steal a winner with 15 minutes to spare.
The match underlined the fact that while money might buy you pink shirts and a selection of the Fifa World Cup’s best players, it can’t buy you a team, or better that, desire.
For the 30 Atletico fans mulling back down towards Plaza de Lima, among a sea of 80,000 white shirts, the sense of smugness was palpable. Atletico’s victory over Real was an early season reminder of the importance of humility and hard work over confidence and complacency.
