CL Watch: Atletico suffer derby defeat

Liverpool’s Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid were defeated 2-1 in the Madrid derby on Saturday night.

Real scored a last gasp penalty to clinch the win at the Vicente Calderon, after substitute Simao had equalised with a free-kick in the 89th minute, canceling out Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first minute opener.

van Nistelrooy and Atletico’s Luis Perea were both sent off in separate incidents in the first half of an entertaining match which Atletico came out of feeling they deserved at least a point.

On-loan midfielder Éver Banega said after “We’ve been screwed by these three defeats in succession, but with this attitude in the second-half we are going to again start playing some good matches. The result is not fair, a draw would have been fairer.” Looking ahead to Wednesday night’s match with Liverpool he said ‘œWe now have two very important matches against Liverpool and Villarreal. The team has to forget about the loss as soon as possible and lift our heads.

Goalkeepr Leo Franco added “This team is in the Champions League and that means we are among the big four of Spain. The level of football in this team is very good, but at the moment these results are hurting us.”

Atletico have lost their last three league games, although the opposition has been strong, before the defeat to Real they were heavily beat by Barcelona (6-1 in fact) and prior to that lost 1-0 to Sevilla. They are currently eighth in La Liga with 9 points from 7 games.

Ex-Red Luis Garcia played the last 20 minutes as sub but was ineffective.

Atletico’s team was: Leo Franco; Perea, Heitinga, Ujfalusi, Pernía; Assunção, Raúl García, Maniche, Éver Banega; Forlán, Kun Agüero.