Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid: Get Your Head In The Game (3-1)

Real Madrid have been finding their feet without the pillars of their team, but their city rivals dealt a blow to the boisterousness in the camp. Atlético ripped apart their rearguard thanks to a frailty that the hosts had identified, bringing to attention doubts at the other end of the pitch.

Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

In the last decade that Diego Simeone has been in charge of Atlético Madrid, the outfit have not fallen further than third position in the standings. Ten goals and seven points from their first three fixtures in the league suggested his men should be in pursuit of the two giants of the division this year. However, a 3-0 defeat to Valencia and a draw at the death against Lazio have rendered September a much less fulfilling month. Returning to the Metropolitano Stadium, the hosts desired to get back on track.

Slumping standards are not acceptable within elite institutions for any reason. For the first time in 15 years, Real Madrid kicked off a campaign without the services of Karim Benzema. Thibaut Courtois was also out due to an ACL injury at the other end of the field. Nevertheless, this is a club where if one man falls, another must rise. The visitors have duly won all their first five LaLiga fixtures, sitting at the top of the table, and were . . .