Will 29 seconds of the Madrid derby prove the most important this season? | Sid Lowe
08-Mar-2021 15:36:05 | The Guardian
Despite still leading the way, there was still something fatalistic for Atlético after Real grabbed a late point in the derby
In the Bumper Book of Things You Just Knew Would Happen, this was Chapter One and the less time there was for it to happen, the more you knew it would; the more they knew it could too, which might be part of the reason it did. As it turned out, on this occasion, 29 seconds were enough. The question now is: enough for what? Was it just a Sunday afternoon that slipped through their fingers or a whole season? And if Real Madrid were resurrected, for how long? At the end of the derby that was supposed to decide the title but instead ended with a 1-1 draw that left it open, Luis Suárez wore a look that could kill. Mostly because Atlético Madrid couldn’t.
The screens in the Metropolitano showed that 86.41 had passed and Atlético were winning 1-0 when Suárez ran at Real’s defence with Saúl sprinting alongside him, space opening before them, a wide, clear path into the area offering one last opportunity to end this match and maybe the race for the league. Scorer of the only goal at that point, his body contorting to screw a shot past Thibaut Courtois with the outside of his right foot, the Uruguayan’s every touch had been just about perfect until his last: this time, the legs were heavy and so was the pass. Saúl was inside the area still, Suárez joining him, João Félix further to the right, the time 86.44. But he had been forced wide and the chance was soon gone, another about to take its place.
Related: Karim Benzema keeps title race alive with Real Madrid's leveller at Atlético
The sequence... pic.twitter.com/JsFcAUCHXt
Luis Suarez continues his phenomenal season as he puts Atleti ahead in the derby with the outside of his right foot! ⚪
He just loves scoring against Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/1r4R6JoxBh
Real Madrid find a late equaliser!
Brilliant from Benzema and Casemiro, and the No. 9 applies the finish ⚪ pic.twitter.com/4kiN1m6bDz
Valencia 2-1 Villarreal, Osasuna 0-2 Barcelona, Cádiz 1-0 Eibar, Elche 2-1 Sevilla, Real Valladolid 2-1 Getafe, Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Granada, Real Sociedad 1-0 Levante, Atlético Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid, Huesca 3-4 Celta Vigo, Real Betis 3-2 Alavés
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