Stephen Dunmoye
Real Madrid maintained their unbeaten run after defeating Atletico Madrid by 2 – 1 in a heated derby on Sunday.
The 2021 Champions league winner return to the top of the table with 18 points in six games, leading Barcelona with 2 points.
Rodrygo and Federico Valverde goals earn Real Madrid a 2-1 win over neighbours Atletico Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have started their title defence in perfect fashion, with a 100 percent record from six games.
The game was marred by racist chants aimed at Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior outside the stadium before the game, sparked by criticism of his dancing goal celebrations and a subsequent debate over whether that criticism was racist.
Fans also threw objects at Vinicius after a Real goal and aimed racist chants at him in the closing stages.
After another Brazilian, Rodrygo, broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, he danced in celebration with Vinicius, to the chagrin of Atletico’s enraged supporters. Some threw objects, including lighters, at the duo.
Madrid were missing the injured Karim Benzema while the hosts picked Antoine Griezmann in the starting line-up for the first time this season, and they were on top in the opening stages.
Spurred on by the rowdy atmosphere, Diego Simeone’s side pressed high up the pitch and put Los Blancos on the back foot, with Felipe heading over and Dani Carvajal deflecting a Yannick Carrasco shot into the side netting.
Geoffrey Kondogbia launched an effort at goal which missed narrowly, but with Atletico dominant, Madrid landed a sucker-punch. Aurelien Tchouameni scooped a delightful pass over the defence and Rodrygo smartly dispatched it past Jan Oblak.
Atletico tried to fight back, with a fierce drive from Griezmann flying past the post and Thibault Courtois denying Carrasco, before Madrid struck another killer blow.
It was a dismal end to a dismal night for Atletico, both on and, shamefully, off the pitch.