It is still early in the season but even a draw in the derby was not much use; Madrid and Atlético had to win. Only Barcelona did
FC Barcelona pulled out of Butarque on an angular blue and orange bus that looked like it had been borrowed from a school trip in the 90s a bit before seven on Saturday evening and headed 30 kilometres north up the M40 to the airport at Barajas, their work done. Half of it, anyway. Nearby, just about visible from the terminal, stood the Wanda Metropolitano, where the rest of it was done for them. Not long after Barça had set off, and a couple of hours after Alavés had passed on their way north back up the A1 to Euskadi, Real Madrid embarked upon the shortest journey they’ve undertaken in La Liga, making the 10-minute trip from their HQ at Valdebebas to Atlético’s new home. It was a short trip, but when they returned a little before midnight, broken and bloodied, it felt like a long way back. For Barcelona, it had been a grand day out.
From the Coliseum across to Eleven Lions Avenue – yes, really – and up to Avenida Arcentales, there were three games in Madrid on Saturday and the third of them was the game: Getafe-Alavés at 1pm, Leganés-Barcelona at 4.15pm and then Atlético-Real at 8.45pm. As flight AEA938 climbed into the sky, the first Madrid derby at the Wanda hadn’t yet started and when it landed, just after nine, it hadn’t yet finished. There hadn’t been a goal yet, either – Ángel Correa had missed the game’s best chance after three minutes, Diego Simeone looking like he was fighting back tears on the touchline, and Toni Kroos nudged one wide at the other end, but that was about it – and Barcelona’s players just about had time to get home for the second half. Those that wanted to, that is – and you might be surprised how few footballers bother.
Related: Bloody nose for Sergio Ramos as Real and Atlético draw in Madrid derby
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