Izuchukwu Okosi
Alvaro Morata was the match winner in Sunday night’s Madrid derby as Atletico Madrid beat city rivals, Real Madrid 3-1 as Diego Simeone’s side ended the 100% unbeaten streak of the 14-time European champions.
Atletico led four minutes into the game when Morata converted Samuel Lino’s dangerous cross against his former side.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAntoine Griezmann then made it 2-0 with another header, before Toni Kroos’ fine low strike from the edge of the box halved the deficit to bring Real back into the game.
But Morata sealed Atletico’s victory when he rose highest to meet Saul Niguez’s ball in after the break.
Victory moved Atletico up to fifth in the table, while Real are third – behind leaders Barcelona and Girona – after dropping points for the first time this season.
Atletico had only won one of their past 14 La Liga Madrid derbies before this match, but stunned their bitter rivals with two goals in the opening 18 minutes and then defended resolutely thereafter.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has been in inspired form since joining Real in the summer, cut a frustrated figure throughout, culminating in a yellow card for a poor challenge on Angel Correa in stoppage time.
The 20-year-old scored six goals in his first six appearances for the club in all competitions, but this result means he tastes defeat for the first time as a Real Madrid player.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
