ss

Atletico thrash Real in the pre-season El Derbi

Real Madrid suffered a humiliating 7-3 defeat by crosstown rival Atletico Madrid in a pre-season game Friday, with speculation still swirling over Gareth Bale's future.

Diego Costa scored three times before the break as Atletico hit five in the opening 45 minutes. Costa added his fourth after the break before receiving a red card for clashing with Real's Dani Carvajal, who was also dismissed in a fiery affair between the two clubs.

Trailing 7-1 with 20 minutes to go, Real scored twice late in the game, easing some of the pain on a chastening evening for head coach Zinedine Zidane.

New signings Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic started against Atletico but had little answer to coach Diego Simeone's side.

Four goals from Costa, plus strikes from Joao Felix, Angel Correa and Vitolo sealed a satisfying victory for Atletico as it ran riot. Red cards for Costa and Carvajal only added to the already-raucous affair.

"There was no response from us to change something," Zidane told reporters after the match, which was played in New Jersey, a stone's throw from New York City. "The first part was difficult. We never entered the game. We have lacked everything, especially intensity.

"You don't have to spin it over. It's a pre-season game. They've been better at everything. There is nothing more to talk about. We are preparing a season and being calm."

Atletico coach Simeone said he knew where Real would be vulnerable and sent his players out to take full advantage.

"Having seen Madrid, we looked for where we could harm them," Simeone told reporters. "We tried to find good places at the exit of the ball and we were very precise. That, in football, it is important."

 

Leave a Reply