Vallecano’s Derby Lead Slips Away

Could Vallecano turn the recent balance of this derby? On Sunday, they looked ready to do so for much of the evening, only for Athletico Madrid to snatch a draw in the first minute of added time. The previous three meetings had brought two Athletico wins and a draw.

Rafael opened the scoring in the 12th minute, steering a low shot from close range inside a post. Eight minutes later, Román Pastor struck from outside the box, his low effort finding the middle of the goal. The home side had given their crowd something to hold on to, but against Athletico a lead is never a comfortable possession.

José Henrique Arósio began the visitors’ recovery in the 55th minute with a low, hard drive at mid-height. Vallecano goalkeeper Francisco Gayol made 10 saves as Athletico pressed, but could not prevent Ndiogou Konaté’s effort from outside the box finding a post in the 91st minute.

Athletico had 12 shots on target to Vallecano’s four and won 12 corners. Gayol’s work kept the hosts in front until the closing moments; the late equaliser denied them a derby victory they had been close to claiming.

Now with Athletico, the former Vallecano player came on in the 20th minute after Garoé Ortí went off injured. Krzysztof Dziedzic entered for Athletico in the 62nd minute but did not score, another blank in a difficult spell in front of goal.

In my day, the provinces and their derbies taught you that a match is not settled by the noise of the first celebration. Vallecano had two of them on Sunday; Athletico had the last word, and the point.