Brahim strike gives Real Madrid first-leg win over Atlético

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz scored a second-half winner as the hosts edged out neighbours Atlético Madrid 2-1 in a scrappy first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday after Julián Álvarez had cancelled out Rodrygo's opener.

It was a stuttering capital derby between bitter rivals who at times looked to be playing within themselves, seemingly conserving some energy for what is likely to be a compelling return leg at Atlético's Metropolitano Stadium next week.

The hosts started on fire when Rodrygo scored a fine opener four minutes after kickoff, but Atlético slowly got into the game and Álvarez equalised with a stunning strike in the 32nd minute.

Real Madrid got the winner in the 55th through Brahim , who worked his magic to find a tiny pocket of space inside a crowded box and slotted a low, angled strike inside Jan Oblak's far post.

"I think we always had the balance throughout the game, despite going a bit down after their equaliser, but at any moment we can find a goal with the talent we have and that's what we did," Brahim told Spanish TV station Movistar Plus.

"Everything is still open in the tie. It's good that we won at home, but it's far from over. This is the Champions League and every little thing you do makes a difference.

"The goal was good, it helped us grab an important win on another magical night at the Bernabeu. But there is still the second leg."

Brahim's goal gave Real Madrid the edge in a hard-fought clash with Diego Simeone's Atleti, who dominated proceedings for large stretches of the match and could easily have finished with a better result if they had made the most of their chances.

Getty Images

---

"It isn't a good result. We were looking to draw or win," Simeone said after the game. "I feel the team competed well. I think we could have done more with the two goals we conceded. The team is competing. From Sunday, we'll start to think about the return leg, which will be tough, we play at our stadium with our fans.

"Our fans push us, they give us energy, we'll need our fans on Wednesday."

The hosts started better and Rodrygo gave them the lead after an outstanding pass by Federico Valverde that he took in his stride before rampaging inside the box past two defenders and curling a brilliant left-foot strike into the far corner.

Despite Real's early dominance, the visitors managed to level the playing field by slowing the pace of the game and started to create chances through Samuel Lino and Giuliano Simeone, a constant menace running up and down the channels.

Atlético found the equaliser after Álvarez wrestled past Eduardo Camavinga on the left byline before cutting inside the box to give himself a better angle and unleashing a strike that curled past Thibaut Courtois and went in off the far post.

The visitors took control of possession and were comfortable passing the ball around amid loud booing from the sold-out Bernabeu crowd who did not hide their frustration.

Atleti began the second half well with Rodrigo de Paul wasting a chance to give them the lead in the 53rd minute, a costly miss as two minutes later Brahim worked his magic to put Real back in front with a goal out of nothing.

Surrounded by three opponents, the Morocco international worked some space with quick feet and left Atletico centre-back José María Giménez on the ground before slotting the ball inside the far corner, giving Oblak no chance.

Simeone appeared comfortable with the scoreline, replacing attacker Antoine Griezmann with centre-back Robin Le Normand and switching to five at the back to make sure Real's lead was no greater ahead of next week's mouth-watering second leg.

"If it was difficult today, imagine how difficult it will be on Wednesday," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the win. "But we have a small advantage, and we'll try to go through. It will be difficult, not much will change."