Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: 5 Classic Matches In La Liga

During his Real Madrid career, Cristiano Ronaldo was Atletico Madrid's kryptonite. His finest performance in the Madrid derby came back in the 2011-12 season.

Los Blancos were leading the title race at that point and needed a win at the Vicente Calderon to continue their title pursuit. Cristiano Ronaldo showed up when Jose Mourinho's side needed it the most.

Ronaldo's first (25') was a blinder, as he dispatched a knuckleball free kick past Thibaut Courtois from 40 yards. However, Radamel Falcao restored parity in the 55th minute.

Ronaldo, though, scored a sensational long ranger yet again in the 68th minute before dispatching a 83rd minute penalty to complete his hat trick. He then set up Jose Callejon in the 87th minute to secure a 4-1 win for his team.

December 1, 2012: Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid

After showing up at the away derby in 2011-12, Cristiano Ronaldo did the same in the home derby the following season. He opened the scoring with a spectacular free kick from 35 yards in the 16th minute.

Despite being at full stretch, Thibaut Courtois couldn't get near the ball; it was hit that sweetly. Ronaldo hit the woodwork twice in that game, once from another spectacular curling free-kick.

Mesut Ozil, however, made it 2-0 in the 66th minute, assisted by Ronaldo. The Portuguese continued his rampant run against Atleti.

November 19, 2016: Atletico Madrid 0-3 Real Madrid

On November 19, 2016, Real Madrid played Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby for the final time at the Vicente Calderon. Cristiano Ronaldo made it a memorable outing by scoring a hat-trick.

His first was a deflected free kick that flew past Jan Oblak in the 23rd minute. Ronaldo then converted a 71st-minute penalty after earning the spot kick.

The Portuguese superstar completed his hat trick by tapping in a Gareth Bale pass after crossing almost the entire pitch with an electric pace.

March 28, 2010: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid hosted Atletico Madrid in a La Liga clash on March 28, 2010. Los Rojiblancos took the early lead at the Santiago Bernabeu through Jose Antonio Reyes (10').

Los Blancos restored parity at the start of the second half through Xabi Alonso (49'), who had joined the club at the start of the 2009-10 season.

Another summer signing of that season, Alvaro Arbeloa, helped Manuel Pellegrini's side put their noses in front with a 55th-minute strike. Gonzalo Higuain brought clear daylight between the teams with his 62nd-minute goal.

While Diego Forlan pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, Real Madrid ran away with a 3-2 win.

March 2, 2014: Atletico Madrid 2-2 Real Madrid

In the 2013-14 season, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were vying for the La Liga title when they met in March 2014. The game at the Vicente Calderon was an instant classic and ended 2-2.

Karim Benzema gave Los Blancos an early lead in the third minute. However, Koke (28') and Arda Turan (45') turned the tie on its head, making it 2-1 for the home side.

Cristiano Ronaldo was yet again the savior, scoring a stunning goal in the 82nd minute after being set up by Gareth Bale.

The Previous Season's Madrid Derby Meetings

In both La Liga clashes last season, the two teams were unable to be separated. The first game at the Metropolitano Stadium finished 1-1, as did the reverse match at the Santiago Bernabeu. In the first game, it was a 95th-minute strike from Ángel Correa that rescued a point for Diego Simeone's men.

The two teams met in the Champions League knockout stages, with the match heading to a penalty shootout as they could not be separated again. A controversial penalty from Julián Alvarez was the talking point. The Argentine scored his penalty kick, but VAR ruled that he touched the ball twice, resulting in a retake. However, he missed the follow-up, and Los Blancos went on to win. The shoot out. It is still debated whether he touched it twice by the red and white teams.

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