The stats behind Atlético’s Derbi Madrileño defeat

Atlético Madrid fell to a depressing home defeat in the Derbi Madrileño as Real Madrid ran out comfortable winners with a 2-1 victory at Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano.

Mario Hermoso’s second goal of the season provided a late consolation for the Colchoneros on Sunday night, but it was too little too late for Atleti, as first-half defensive mistakes catapulted the visitors into a lead they would not relinquish.

Here are three stats that help us to learn more about the game:

May 2013: The last time Atleti lost consecutive home games in LaLiga

Atlético’s home form is concerning. Two games played at the Metropolitano have led to two defeats in LaLiga. Porto in the Champions League did bring a win, but only thanks to some last-gasp, 101st-minute heroics.

Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

It’s the first time since back-to-back defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona in May 2013 that Atleti have been beaten in this manner, and the first time in the Cívitas Metropolitano’s five-year history that fans have gone home empty-handed in consecutive fixtures.

That is as many home defeats as recorded in 2021/22, and twice as many as in 2020/21, 2019/20, 2018/19 and 2017/18. The last time Atleti registered more home defeats in an entire season than the team already has at match day six of 2022/23 was in 2016/17, when the Rojiblancos lost at home three times.

30th: Corner in LaLiga before a goal was scored

Much can be made of Atlético’s woeful attacking set-up that could not find a way through the Real Madrid defence, but there were plenty of opportunities to score from corners. When the ball bounced off an unaware Mario Hermoso in the 83rd minute, the Colchoneros had scored their first LaLiga goal from a corner this season.

That came as the team’s seventh corner of the night (eventually reaching eight, when Hermoso then got himself sent off), and the 30th of the LaLiga season to date, came into the penalty area. That’s a season high to date, and the 21 crosses delivered were second only to the August home defeat to Villarreal.

Atleti have averaged a shot at 23% of their corners this season, and need to make more of these set piece opportunities in games where they are struggling and chasing a result. Ties like this can change entirely from opportunities where Diego Simeone’s teams used to thrive.

6: Fouls by Vinícius Júnior

Among the great mysteries of the evening was quite how Vinícius Júnior stayed out of José Luis Munuera Montero’s notebook. Six fouls committed, plus three clear dives, would surely have been enough to get anybody else a booking — at the very least.

Photo by Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images

After a week-long media campaign painting him as a saint, the referee himself fell for the trick and seemed to be reluctant to book him or treat him in a way that could be perceived as harsh. The Brazilian was fouled twice, neither time in the second half, and Simeone’s side generally handled him well.

One big chance missed, three failed dribbles and only four ground duels won out of 17 all seem to suggest the young superstar did not have his best night.