Teen Rodriguez looks the Real deal to rescue derby draw

MADRID — Real Madrid's young striker Alvaro Rodriguez salvaged a late 1-1 draw for the champion in a tense derby clash against 10-man Atletico Madrid on Saturday in La Liga.

The point reduced league leader Barcelona's advantage on Los Blancos to seven points, but gave the Catalan side the opportunity to expand the gap to 10 on Sunday away to Almeria.

Jose Gimenez headed Atletico in front in the second half shortly after teammate Angel Correa had been sent off for elbowing Real defender Antonio Rudiger.

However, 18-year-old forward Rodriguez headed Madrid level in only his second league appearance for the club.

The striker made a strong impact in a cameo against Osasuna last weekend with an assist, and made an even more important contribution against Atletico.

Despite his impact, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his team's hopes of defending the title are fading, albeit not extinguished.

"It's not a goodbye to La Liga — it's even more complicated, but we will fight to the end and see what happens," Ancelotti told reporters.

The Italian coach praised Rodriguez for making a difference coming off the bench.

"Alvaro has shown all his qualities, he's not played much, it's a special night for him and for us to think that he can be useful at this stage of the season," added Ancelotti.

"For next season, Alvaro will be in the first-team squad. He has qualities that few have for his age.

"He's tall, good on the ball, great in the air, and the idea is to have him with us in the first-team squad next season."

Atletico, which sits fourth, only has league games left this season but a win at Madrid for the first time since 2016 in the top flight would have raised morale.

The first half was evenly contested and surprisingly pedestrian in quality, after the entertaining Copa del Rey clash these sides offered up in January, won 3-1 by Real.

Ancelotti's side also won the first league match against Atletico in October, but could not continue its domination at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Atletico defender Reinildo Mandava was forced off injured midway through the first half, appearing to hurt his knee in a tussle with Fede Valverde.

Correa elbow

Antoine Griezmann, in fine form all season, dragged a low shot narrowly wide of Thibaut Courtois' goal following good work by Yannick Carrasco after an hour.

Atletico was soon reduced to 10 men when Correa lashed out and hit Rudiger in the chest off the ball, with the German defender flinging himself to the floor.

Spanish news outlets had reported Atletico was unhappy with the appointment of referee Jesus Gil Manzano, who once dismissed former Rojiblancos striker Diego Costa for insulting him — leading to an eight-match ban. And the official's red card for Correa will not help heal old wounds.

"The contact was not so violent to immediately be a red card," Atletico coach Simeone told reporters.

"There are many people who have paid for tickets and want to see the players.

"In football there is contact, that's how it is."

With the numerical advantage, Ancelotti took a risk and brought on young forward Rodriguez for defender Nacho, moving substitute Eduardo Camavinga to leftback.

Moments later, though, Atletico took the lead.

Gimenez, who had replaced the injured Reinildo, met Griezmann's inviting freekick with a towering header after 78 minutes to break the deadlock.

However, Rodriguez intervened with five minutes left on the clock, leaping brilliantly to nod Luka Modric's corner in off the post, after Atletico had left him unmarked.

Madrid could not find a winner and the result left the door open for Barcelona to take another step toward the titles.

"We went behind and then saving a point is better than nothing, but it's not enough," said Courtois.

AFP