Atletico equalizes late against Madrid in derby interrupted after objects thrown on the field
Atletico players celebrate a goal during the La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Credit: AP/Bernat Armangue
MADRID — Ángel Correa scored in stoppage time and Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in a tense Spanish league derby that was interrupted for more than 15 minutes in the second half after Atletico fans threw objects onto the field.
Correa equalized for Atletico in a breakaway five minutes into added time with a goal that was initially disallowed for offside but was awarded after video review. Éder Militão had given Madrid the lead in the 64th.
The draw left Madrid in second place, three points behind leader Barcelona, which lost 4-2 to Osasuna on Saturday to end its seven-game winning streak. Atletico was third, two points behind Madrid after eight rounds.
“I always think positively,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We moved closer to the leader and we have been playing well.”
The derby was interrupted shortly after Madrid's goal at the Metropolitano, with the referee sending the players to the locker rooms after Atletico fans kept throwing objects onto the field.
Militão had celebrated near the sideline in front of Atletico fans, and Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was seen appearing to provoke Atletico fans after Militão scored.
“What the fans did wasn't right but we are not helping when we provoke them,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “I'm not justifying what the fans did, but we need to help as well.”
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior goes for a header during the La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Credit: AP/Bernat Armangue
It was Courtois who alerted the referee about the objects — including lighters — being thrown onto the field near him.
Atletico defender José María Giménez and midfielder Koke Resurrección went to talk to the fans in the section behind Courtois’ goal. That section is where usually the more radical Atletico supporters are located. Atletico coach Diego Simeone also asked several times for the fans to behave.
A message over the stadium loudspeakers said the match was being interrupted for 15 minutes, and that it would be suspended if the problem continued.
The interruption came a day after the Spanish league said it would ask police to act against the promoters of a social media campaign which the league said was aimed at promoting racist acts against Madrid star Vinícius Júnior at the derby.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo, left, and Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez fight for the ball during the La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Credit: AP/Bernat Armangue
The social media campaign was based on a hashtag encouraging Atletico fans to wear face masks, apparently to make it more difficult for authorities to identify individuals who participate in racist chants or insults.
Social media videos showed Atletico fans before the match chanting “Vinícius is different.”
Vinícius occasionally clashed with Atletico players at the Metropolitano.
Atletico’s Marcos Llorente was sent off in stoppage time.
Other results
Fourth-place 10-man Athletic Bilbao conceded a stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Sevilla at home, while Giovani Lo Celso scored an 85th-minute goal in Real Betis' 1-0 home win over Espanyol.
Iago Aspas got an 81st-minute equalizer for Celta Vigo in a 1-1 draw against visiting Girona.
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