La Liga: Actual Madrid maintain Atletico Madrid in 1-1 derby draw, path Barcelona by 7 factors

Alvaro Rodriguez grabbed the equaliser for Actual Madrid in opposition to metropolis rivals Atletico Madrid on the Bernabeu. AP

Madrid: Actual Madrid’s younger striker Alvaro Rodriguez salvaged a late 1-1 draw for the champions in a tense derby conflict in opposition to 10-man Atletico Madrid on Saturday in LaLiga.

New Valencia coach Ruben Baraja earned his first win with a powerful 1-0 triumph in opposition to Actual Sociedad at Mestalla, to assist the group transfer provisionally one level away from the drop zone.

Actual Madrid’s draw reduces league leaders Barcelona’s benefit on Los Blancos to seven factors, however offers the Catalans the possibility to develop the hole to 10 on Sunday once they journey to Almeria.

Jose Gimenez had headed Atletico in entrance within the second half shortly after team-mate Angel Correa had been despatched off for elbowing Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger.

Nonetheless 18-year-old Rodriguez headed Madrid stage on solely his second league look for the membership.

The striker made a robust impression in a cameo in opposition to Osasuna final weekend, organising a purpose, and made an much more necessary contribution in opposition to Atletico.

Regardless of his impression, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his group’s hopes of defending the title are fading, albeit not extinguished.

“It’s not a goodbye to LaLiga — it’s much more sophisticated, however we are going to struggle to the top and see what occurs,” Ancelotti informed reporters.

The Italian coach praised Rodriguez for making a distinction coming off the bench.

“Alvaro has proven all his qualities, he’s not performed a lot, it’s a particular night time for him and for us to suppose that he could be helpful at this stage of the season,” added Ancelotti.

“For subsequent season, Alvaro will probably be within the first group squad. He has qualities that few have for his age.

“He’s tall, good on the ball, nice within the air, and the concept is to have him with us within the first group squad subsequent season.”

Atletico had been looking for a league win at Actual for the primary time since 2016.

Rojiblancos defender Reinildo Mandava was compelled off injured halfway via a colorless first half, hurting his knee in a tussle with Fede Valverde.

Correa elbow

Atletico had been lowered to 10 males after an hour when Correa lashed out and hit Rudiger within the chest, with the German defender flinging himself to the ground.

“The contact was not so violent to right away be a purple card,” Simeone informed reporters.

“There are a lot of individuals who have paid for tickets and wish to see the gamers.

“In soccer there may be contact, that’s how it’s.”

Regardless of the purple card, Atletico rapidly took the lead.

Gimenez, who had changed the injured Reinildo, met Antoine Griezmann’s inviting free-kick with a towering header after 78 minutes to interrupt the impasse.

Nonetheless substitute Rodriguez intervened with 5 minutes left on the clock, leaping brilliantly to nod Luka Modric’s nook in off the publish.

Madrid couldn’t discover a winner and the outcome leaves the door open for Barcelona to take one other step in the direction of the title on Sunday.

“We went behind after which saving some extent is healthier than nothing, nevertheless it’s not sufficient,” stated Courtois.

At Mestalla, Valencia put in a hard-working efficiency to defeat third place Actual Sociedad, now only a level forward of Atletico.

Igor Zubeldia’s personal purpose cut up the groups, the defender turning into his personal internet as he tried to chop out a Samuel Lino cross 5 minutes earlier than the break.

Valencia had been awarded a penalty early within the second half when Hugo Duro went down nevertheless it was cancelled after VAR intervention confirmed no foul was dedicated.

Actual Sociedad piled on the strain however Valencia got here closest to scoring when Lino hit the woodwork.

Baraja’s facet scrapped their strategy to the full-time whistle and solely a sixth win from 23 league video games.

It was Valencia’s first victory in 9 league video games, with their dangerous type seeing coach Gennaro Gattuso sacked on the finish of January.

Voro took over for the sixth time in Peter Lim’s reign as proprietor however was changed by former Valencia nice Baraja, who secured a win in his second sport in cost, after a defeat by Getafe final weekend.

Cadiz earned a 1-0 win over sixth-place Rayo Vallecano to climb into mid-table, whereas Martin Braithwaite netted twice for Espanyol to beat Actual Mallorca 2-1.

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