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Real Madrid maintained their unbeaten start to the LaLiga season with a 2-1 victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano on Sunday.
Despite being second best for much of the first half, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were ruthless in front of goal, with goals from Rodrygo and Federico Valverde putting them in command. Late in the game, Mario Hermoso pulled a goal back for the hosts, but they were unable to find an equaliser.
Real returns to the top of the LaLiga table with 18 points from six games, two more than Barcelona in second. Atletico Madrid are seventh, eight points behind their rivals.
“You’re always very happy after winning the derby. We managed to double our lead and then defend really well. Our gameplan was to be solid at the back and to play direct with the ball between the lines,” Ancelotti said.
“That’s how we scored and we knew once we’d got 2-0 up that defending would be enough to get us over the line,” he added.
Diego Simeone’s side started brightly and went close through defender Felipe and Yannick Carrasco, but they fell behind on 18 minutes when Rodrygo emphatically finished the visitors’ first attempt on goal.
Atletico set up a grandstand finish with a header from substitute Hermoso seven minutes from time after Courtois misjudged a cross, but the defender was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time, and Real held on to take the points.
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