Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone rued his team’s wastefulness in front of goal after they were held to a 1-1 draw against rivals Real Madrid in a fiery LaLiga derby on Saturday.
Julian Alvarez gave Atletico an early lead, but Kylian Mbappe’s second-half equalizer ensured a share of the spoils.
Despite a dominant start, Atletico failed to capitalize on their chances, a frustration Simeone acknowledged post-match.
“We had a great first half but lacked the precision to finish our chances,” he admitted. “After their equalizer, they raised their intensity, and while we regained some control later, both teams probably feel they deserved more.”
The game wasn’t without controversy, as both sides voiced complaints over key decisions. Atletico questioned Dani Ceballos’ challenge on Pablo Barrios, while Real were unhappy with the penalty awarded for Aurelien Tchouameni’s foul on Samuel Lino.
Simeone, however, defended referee Cesar Soto Grado. “He handled it as best as he could. Some may say Ceballos deserved a red, but VAR didn’t intervene. In the end, he made his decisions, and I think he did a good job overall.”
The draw keeps Real Madrid atop LaLiga with 50 points, just one ahead of Atletico. Meanwhile, third-placed Barcelona will look to close the gap when they visit Sevilla on Sunday.
