First Division - Day 29

Real Madrid 3 - Atlético Madrid 2

Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Marcelo; Granero (Guti 82'), Gago, Xabi Alonso, Van der Vaart (Raúl 75'); Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín (Diarrá 88'). 4-4-2.
Atlético: De Gea; Valera (Perea 41'), Ujfalusi, Domínguez, Antonio López; Reyes (Jurado 46'), Paulo Assunçao, Tiago, Simao (Salvio 77'); Diego Forlán, Agüero. 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 10. Reyes. Picked up Agüero pass and curled shot wide of Casillas.
1-1. 49. Xabi Alonso. From close up after Raúl Albiol headed across corner.
2-1. 55. Arbeloa. Chested down Alonso pass and went past Domínguez to score.
3-1. 62. Higuaín. Ran on to shoot past De Gea after Tiago gave ball away.
3-2. 67. Forlán (penalty). After Xabi Alonso handled Simao's corner in the area.

Yellow cards: Arbeloa 40', Perea 45', Sergio Ramos 83', Xabi Alonso 85'.

Only two weeks to go to the big "derby" game, and there is nothing to choose between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid have the slight edge over their rivals on goal difference however after coming from behind to beat Atlético Madrid in the last match on Sunday night. Atleti haven't won against their city neighbours in ten years, but they took the lead when Reyes curled a shot past Casillas in the tenth minute. Pellegrini's side missed several chances after that, in particular a header wide by Cristiano Ronaldo with the goal at his mercy. But they turned the game around quickly after the restart, Xabi Alonso finishing off after Albiol headed across a corner, and then provided a long pass himself for Arbeloa to turn past Domínguez and beat De Gea. Higuaín headed a Van der Vaart free kick against the bar a couple of minutes later, and then finally scored his side's third after Tiago tackled Granero but then failed to clear. But Diego Forlán got one back from the penalty spot after Alonso handled in the area, and there were some nervous moments before the referee blew the final whistle.