Zinedine Zidane’s double substitution at half-time transformed the Madrid derby on Saturday as Real Madrid edged past Atletico 1-0 to move six points clear at the top of La Liga. Karim Benzema scored the winner at the Santiago Bernabeu after Zidane’s decisive intervention turned a contest that Atletico had dominated into another comfortable Real Madrid victory. Second-place Barcelona can cut the gap back to three points by beating Levante at home on Sunday but Atletico now trail the leaders by 13 points. It is a far cry from pre-season when Atletico thrashed Real 7-3 and many were tipping them as serious challengers. Real retreated a little, perhaps waiting for an Atletico push that never came.

Source: Punch February 01, 2020 17:26 UTC