Magnificent Madrid Derby as Real Rule.

The game was always going to be a fiery occasion and it got off to a great start. Ronaldo's cross found Ozil on the edge of the box and the shot deflected out for a corner. Ronaldo then had a shot himself and it wasn't far away from the bottom corner. Atletico went up the other end and with what was their first attack of the game they got a vital away goal. Kun Aguero's run into the box was stopped by Casillas but the ball ricocheted into Forlan's path and the Uruguayan couldn't miss from a few yards out with no keeper to beat.
Real continued to attack and a long range shot by Ronaldo bounced awkwardly for De Gea who had to push it round for a corner. Arbeloa then made a good run into the box from the right and after getting past 3 challenges he managed to pull the ball across but the chance was missed. The next wave of attacks came and Real won a corner. Di Maria took it and the corner was met by a great header from Sergio Ramos who put the ball over De Gea in the Atletico goal which drew the hosts back level. Real had shown some great determination to get back into the game and deserved to be level but what was the most surprising thing was that all this had happened with less than 14 minutes played.
The chances kept coming and the next to have a go was Carvalho who was up from the back. His header was going right into the bottom left corner but a magnificent save from De Gea kept his team level. Kun Aguero was then denied a good shout for a penalty when he got caught just inside the box but the ref let play go on and in the same move Real Madrid claimed for a penalty themselves when Di Maria looked to have been brought down. The ref got it spot on however as the replay showed that it was a clear dive and it was very worthy of the yellow card it got. De Gea was then called into action once again as first he tipped a Di Maria shot over the bar then made another great save as he pushed a Ronaldo shot out for a throw. Another Di Maria shot was then pushed out by De Gea and the Atleti defence got there first to clear the danger as the half finished 1-1 but there could have been many more goals in what was a very exciting half.
The second half wasn't as fast paced as the start of the first half but there was still chances for both sides as Aguero had his shot saved by Casillas and the rebound nearly fell to an unmarked Forlan. Ronaldo then saw another shot tipped over before he clashed with De Gea after sliding in on the rebound from Marcelo's shot.

Mesut Ozil got a lucky goal right at the death to give Real
a huge advantage in the tie.

Atletico then caught Real on the break as a superb ball from Reyes found Aguero and after he beat Ramos down the right his shot was then pushed out by Casillas but the shot went straight to Forlan who could only manage to hit the post with what looked like an open goal. Keeping with the rest of the game Real then went down the other end and Ronaldo then slid in at the back post to meet Ozil's cross to give Real the lead but there should have been a free kick to Atletico for a foul by Marcelo in the build up to the goal which angered a few of the away teams players. It wasn't long before Atletico had another chance down the left but Forlan couldn't find his strike partner with a low ball across back across the area and the Real defence got it clear. Ronaldo then got away with a very strong challenge with just a yellow card but it could have been worse as the studs where up and it caught Ujafalusi on the ankle. Real then had another series of chances as Kaka, Ozil and Alonso all saw shots blocked by the spirited Atleti defence to keep the deficit down.
Forlan then went off after what was his first game of the year and then Ramos slid in from the back and took out Aguero but the ref didn't give a free kick so the Real players put the ball out of play to allow treatment. The Atletico players then took the throw and kept the ball, much to the dismay of the Real team and fans, but they where right in there thinking that it should have been a free kick. They did eventually give the ball back but only after a consultation with the ref and a number of missiles had been thrown from the stands.
Real where then handed a huge slice of luck when Ozil's attempted one-two with Ronaldo came back to his feet after a huge deflection off Luis Filipe and the German play maker put the game beyond doubt as he rolled in into the bottom right corner and gave Real a huge advantage in the tie.
Real Madrid hadn't lost in 17 games in all competitions at the Bernabeu and they made it 18 tonight but Atletico also have a good home record so will be looking to try and overturn the 3-1 scoreline at the Vicente Calderon next Thursday. They wont be doubting the fact that they can score the two goals in the game that they need to progress but the major doubt must be that they can keep Real from doing the same especially with the free scoring form they have been in this season. If Atletico are to progress in the Copa then a clean sheet really will be vital but one thing is for certain, if the game is any ware as good as tonight's game then we are in for a treat.