(Football news) Carlo Ancelotti’s men triumphed 5-3 over their near neighbours en route to glory in Riyadh, and Los Blancos now resume the defence of another one of their hard-earned knockout crowns.
Bedlam reigned supreme when local foes Atletico and Real squared up to one another in last Wednesday’s Supercopa de Espana semi-final, where an extra 30 minutes were required to separate the two heavyweights following a six-goal spectacular in the opening 90.
The net would bulge on another two occasions in extra time, albeit at the wrong end of the pitch as far as Diego Simeone was concerned, as a Stefan Savic own goal and Brahim Diaz effort meant that Atletico’s Saudi Arabian sojourn was for nought.
Failure to emerge triumphant from the latest Madrid derby means that the Rojiblancos have now failed in each of their last three Supercopa de Espana ventures, but Simeone’s side can at least continue to dream of Copa del Rey glory, for the next 48 hours at least.
Before jetting off to the Middle East, Atletico made slightly hard work of a 3-1 beating of third-tier Lugos in the last 32 of Spain’s premier cup tournament – Memphis Depay was the hero with a second-half brace after both sides cancelled each other out in the opening period – and that win is just one of two for Atletico in their last six games during a woeful winter spell.
The hosts have also been knocked out of two of their most recent three Copa del Rey last-16 ties, the outlier being their quarter-final elimination in the 2022-23 edition, which came at the hands of – of course – Real Madrid.
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