Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid match report: Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale shoot blanks as derby ends in deadlock

Atletico Madrid 0 Real Madrid 0:No away goal for Real leaves them exposed in second leg

(Getty Images)

For intensity and drama it was just like being back in Lisbon. Real and Atletico played out the first part of the sequel to last season’s Champions League final and left everything to play for in part two next Wednesday at the Bernabeu.

Diego Simeone’s side looked gone with the wind in the first 45 minutes as Real made the most of a strong breeze at their backs and were only denied a comfortable half-time lead by the brilliance of 22-year-old home goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

In the second period they regained composure and reminded everyone why they won La Liga last season. Mario Mandzukic might even have snatched it at the end had Alvaro Arbeloa not thrown himself in front of the Croatian’s last-minute shot. With the away goals rule now favouring Simeone’s side, the Argentine will fancy his team’s chances.

Real almost took the lead on four minutes when Diego Godin made an uncharacteristic mistake at the heart of Atletico’s defence, leaving Gareth Bale a clear path to goal. The Welshman’s first touch was good but Oblak came out quickly and blocked his shot.

Atletico were fired-up and the Vicente Calderon was once again a bouncing mass of red and white. Mandzukic raised the volume levels still further when he laid his first boot on Sergio Ramos with a high foot inside the penalty area. Ramos then clattered Mario Suarez as Real reciprocated their opponents’ aggressive start.

The away side were pouring forward down the Atletico left where, ever since Luis Felipe left for Chelsea in the summer, Diego Simeone has struggled to fill the gap.

Gareth Bale missed the chance of the game in the opening stages

Dani Carvajal fed Bale and he crossed for Cristiano Ronaldo, who failed to get a clean contact on the shot. He also had his first set-piece chance of the night but Oblak got down well to his right to make the save. Bale got beyond left-back Guillherme Siqueira again and Godin had to dive in ahead of Ronaldo to prevent the cross reaching its intended target.

Atletico were reduced to long balls over the top. Antoine Griezmann left Ramos in his wake but failed to find a team-mate. Mandzukic chased another long punt forward but was no match for Raphael Varane, who shepherded the ball back.

Real continued to find a freeway down the Atletico left but Bale found space infield and hit a shot from 30 yards that Oblak parried, however, no-one in a white shirt reacted quickly enough to convert the rebound.

The only real consolation for Atletico was that despite Real virtually laying siege to Oblak’s goal, the score was still 0-0.

James Rodriguez forced another fine save from Oblak with a curling shot from the edge of the area after Atletico had failed to properly clear a Toni Kroos corner.

This was nothing like the league meeting in February, when Real were still missing Rodriguez, as well as Luka Modric and Ramos, and lost 4-0; it was more like extra-time in last year’s final in Lisbon, where an exhausted Atletico shipped three goals.

Simeone tried to rouse the home supporters to offer even more noise and when Griezmann found space on the edge of the area he spun and shot only for Iker Casillas to get down sharply to his left to make the save.

Mario Mandzukic was bloodied by a Sergio Ramos elbow (Getty Images)

Varane conceded another corner but when it was cleared the Frenchman showed his blistering pace by tearing down the right. He ran fully 30 yards but when he crossed, first Modric and then Karim Benzema failed to finish. Everyone wanted a run at Siqueira, but still Real had not scored.

Atletico started the second half with the wind at their backs and Juanfran’s cross was headed just wide by Arda Turan. Bale raced clear down the right and looked to have been pushed off the pitch in front of Simeone’s technical area. The referee ignored the appeals and Simeone demanded a yellow for a dive from Bale, who had clearly been fouled.

Kroos shot from distance and Oblak saved. The 22-year-old Slovenian was having an inspired night and at least now didn’t have a wind-assisted Madrid to deal with. Isco warmed up as Carlo Ancelotti contemplated leaving the Calderon with the 0-0 scoreline he absolutely did not want.

Daniel Carvajal appears to hit Mario Mandzukic (ITV)

He said before the game when asked constantly about the fact that Real had not beaten Atletico in their last six meetings that in the Champions League a goal-less draw would give their rivals the away goals advantaged he had craved.

Real looked certain to break the deadlock 20 minutes from time when Marcelo’s cross from the left found Benzema, but inexplicably he tried to flick the ball back to Ronaldo, who was marked, despite himself having only Oblak to beat.

Isco finally replaced Benzema and Raul Garcia was roared on by the home fans when he replaced Griezmann. He would give much needed support to Mandzukic, who was losing the physical battle with Ramos. Bloodied by one clash with the defender, the Croatian had also been punched by Carvajal off the ball and booked for complaining to the referee.

Fernando Torres was also given the last five minutes to find a winner but none of the changes brought the breakthrough, despite panic in the Real six-yard box as the clock ran down. Everything now rests on events at the Santiago Bernabeu in seven days’ time.