Player ratings as Llorente strikes late to steal derby draw

Real Madrid missed the chance to move four points clear at the top of the La Liga standings as Marcos Llorente popped up with a stoppage-time equaliser in Sunday’s Madrid derby.

Brahim Diaz struck in the first half and it looked as though Real Madrid were going to cruise to a victory before Llorente rose highest to power home in the 93rd minute and secure a share of the spoil.

The result sees Real Madrid extend their lead at the top of the table to two points ahead of Saturday’s meeting with title rivals Girona.

How the game unfolded

Before the game had even begun, Real Madrid were handed a huge blow as Vinicius Junior succumbed to injury in the warm-up. Reports suggested he was fine, then he wasn’t, then he was again, then it was Joselu replacing him, but it was finally Brahim’s name that appeared on the starting lineup.

Alvaro Morata stung Andriy Lunin’s gloves early on in an energetic first half, but stand-in striker Brahim had the white half of Madrid celebrating 20 minutes in as he collected a loose ball in the box and poked beyond Jan Oblak. A brief VAR check confirmed that Lucas Vazquez was onside in the build-up.

Axel Witsel failed to convert a header almost immediately after, and the ensuing corner also saw Stefan Savic spur the offer of an instant equaliser.

Atletico’s defending fell below expectations in the first half. Lucas Vazquez hit the side netting after bursting through and the full-back linked up well with Brahim to cause all sorts of problems before the break.

Just three minutes after the interval, Atletico thought they had tied things up. Savic rose highest to head home from a corner but saw the goal disallowed as Saul Niguez was obstructing the goalkeeper in an offside position, even though Andriy Lunin was never getting to the ball anyway.

Oblak made a huge save to deny Rodrygo on the counter shortly after the hour mark, before Brahim nearly netted a glorious solo goal. He left two Atletico defenders for dead but curled his effort wide of goal.

Atleti pushed for an equaliser but lacked any real creativity in the final third, but just as it looked as though they would have to settle for defeat, up popped Llorente with a powerful header deep into stoppage time.

GK: Andriy Lunin – 7/10 – Had to make some smart saves to keep Atletico from grabbing an immediate equaliser in the first half.

RB: Lucas Vazquez – 7/10 – Vazquez loves a big game. An absolute menace charging up and down…