Derby with Atlético? Real Madrid took the match as a friendly, players and Ancelotti joked during the losing game

“El derbi madrileño” between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid is always very heated, full of fierce fights and hatred. Not so on Sunday, as Los Blancos have already secured the league title with four rounds to go. So they took the match very casually, almost like a friendly.

Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that the outcome of the derby didn’t matter so much to Real this time around with his lineup selection. Andriy Lunin started in goal for the first time in the league, leaving only Eder Militao in the defensive four, who was complemented by substitutes Lucas Vázquez and Nacho and Jesus Vallejo, who started only his third game this season.

Wednesday’s heroes Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo also made it into the starting lineup, coming on more as substitutes. Marco Asensio and Luka Jovic, who is almost written off, also got a chance and made their first starts since February.

Atlético deservedly took a 1-0 lead after Carrasco converted a penalty, but Real didn’t care. The players certainly didn’t overexert themselves, they played the first half almost at a walking pace, as if they were still on their championship and promotion celebrations. For in one week Los Blancos had won the league title and heroically advanced to the Champions League final.

The relaxed atmosphere was most evident in the 61st minute. Ancelotti wanted to spread the load, so he pulled Casemiro from the game and the fans were treated to a funny scene. When the Brazilian reached the bench, he and the coach started to talk in laughter, eventually hugging each other with a smile. And all this in the 60th minute of the derby with the score 1:0 to Atlético.

“That perfectly sums up how we approached this match, ” a Real Madrid fan summed it up with a laugh on Twitter.

Los Blancos came alive in the second half after the substitutions and created pressure. But don’t expect any nervousness from the players on the bench. The TV cameras were busy in the last minutes of the match as Courtois, Casemiro, Militao and Benzema were joking around without any problem and not paying much attention to the action on the pitch.

That Real Madrid were practically a non-issue in the derby was confirmed by Ancelotti at the press conference. “We didn’t need points today. We needed to rest key players and give a chance to those who played less,” said the Italian coach.

Source: Real Madrid, Twitter, La Liga