Introduction: A Shadow of Hate Looms Over the Derby 

 

The Cívitas Metropolitano was decked out for the Madrid derby, but the festive atmosphere was marred by a tense air that went beyond mere sporting rivalry. The weeks leading up to the match had been a shameful spectacle of hate and incitement to racism, with Vinícius Jr. as the main target: a fact that could even affect Spain's bid for a future World Cup. 

 

The #MetropolitanoConMascarilla campaign, which emerged from the sewers of social media, called on rojiblanco fans to hide their faces with a mask so they could insult the Brazilian player with impunity. #MetropolitanoConMascarilla and #SayeverythingtoVinícius flooded Twitter, highlighting the moral character of a section of the Atlético fans. There was even a proposal for a "tribute" to Mono Burgos in the 13th minute, chanting the nickname of the former rojiblanco goalkeeper with the clear intention of insulting the Real Madrid player. 

 

LaLiga, faced with the seriousness of the situation, reported the instigators of this campaign, which sought to "promote racist and insulting acts" and which constituted "a hate crime". However, the threat of sanctions was not enough to dispel the tension in the run-up to the match. The shadow of past racist incidents, such as the chants of "You're a monkey, Vinícius you're a monkey" and the hanging effigy wearing the player's shirt, hung over the stadium. 

 

First Half: Tactical Battle and a Cagey Affair 

 

Amidst this heated atmosphere, both teams took to the pitch with the intention of imposing their game. Simeone, in an unexpected tactical move, lined up Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Giménez, Le Normand, Reinildo; Llorente, Gallagher, De Paul, Julián Álvarez; Griezmann and Sørloth. Cholo, knowing Real Madrid's defensive strength, opted for a 4-4-2 with three natural forwards, sacrificing a centre-back to populate the midfield and look for verticality with Julián Álvarez and Sørloth. Ancelotti, meanwhile, responded with a more conservative 4-4-2: Courtois; Carvajal, Militão, Rüdiger, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Rodrygo and Vinicius. The Italian coach, aware of the pressure of the atmosphere and the need to control the game, prioritised balance in midfield with Tchouaméni, Valverde and Modric. 

 

The first half was a reflection of the tense atmosphere: plenty of caution, few chances and a scrappy game in which both teams were overly respectful of each other. Julián Álvarez, with a run down the left in the 10th minute, and Valverde, with two long-range shots in the 15th and 25th minutes, were the only efforts made to test both goalkeepers. Bellingham, with freedom of movement in attack, tried to link up with Vinicius and Rodrygo, but the rojiblanca defence held firm. 

 

Second Half: Militão Breaks the Deadlock, Controversy Erupts, and Correa Rescues Atlético 

 

The second half began with a more aggressive Atlético, looking for the opposition goal with greater intensity. In the 55th minute, Simeone brought on Lino for Sørloth, looking for more depth down the wing. However, it was Real Madrid who struck first. In the 64th minute, after a lateral free-kick taken by Modric, Vinícius got away from De Paul with a masterful turn and sent a cross into the box which Militão, unmarked at the far post, finished off with composure to make it 0-1. 

 

The goal sparked madness in the south stand of the Metropolitano, where the Frente Atlético are famously located. In a deplorable act, a shower of lighters and objects rained down on Courtois, who had celebrated the goal by looking at the stands. The referee, Busquets Ferrer, did not hesitate to apply the anti-violence protocol and suspended the match for roughly 15 minutes, sending the players to the dressing rooms while the Atlético captains, Koke and Giménez, tried to calm the ultras. Television images showed several individuals with their faces covered, confirming that the #MetropolitanoConMascarilla campaign had been successful among the hooligans. 

 

The resumption of the match brought with it a change in the dynamic of the game. Atlético, spurred on by necessity and with the changes introduced by Simeone (Correa for Gallagher in the 70th minute, Javi Galán for Reinildo and Riquelme for Julián Álvarez in the 76th), went on the attack in search of an equaliser, while Real Madrid, incomprehensibly, sat back, gifting the initiative to their opponents. Lino, with a powerful shot in the 81st minute, forced Courtois to make a great save. 

 

Ancelotti, sensing the danger, made changes to try and regain control of the midfield. Lucas Vázquez replaced Modric in the 86th minute, and a minute later, Endrick came on for Vinicius Jr. The young Brazilian striker had a glorious opportunity to seal the win for Real Madrid shortly after coming on, but he opted for a shot from distance that sailed wide, much to the frustration of his teammates, particularly Bellingham who was in a better position to score. 

 

In the 96th minute, when the match seemed to be dying out, came ecstasy for the home side. A through ball from Javi Galán found Correa, who, after an uncertain control, beat Courtois to make it 1-1. The goal, initially ruled out for offside, was finally awarded after a VAR review, sparking euphoria in the Metropolitano. 

 

Conclusion: A Draw Marred by Shameful Behaviour 

 

The draw, although fair on the merits of both teams, left a bittersweet taste in the mouth of Real Madrid, who missed a golden opportunity to pull away from Atlético in the table and close in on league leaders, Barcelona. Ancelotti's side, with a timid attitude in the second half, once again showed their inability to manage narrow leads, an endemic problem that has cost them valuable points on numerous occasions. 

 

Beyond the result, the derby left a sorry image of Spanish football. The violence and racism displayed by a section of Atlético Madrid's fans marred a match that should have been a celebration of the Spanish capital’s two biggest clubs. It is imperative that Atlético take decisive action to eradicate this behaviour from their stadium, following the example of other clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona, who have managed to expel racist ultra groups from their stands. In the meantime, the shadow of intolerance will continue to loom over Spanish football, even putting at risk the possibility of hosting future international events such as a World Cup.