Real Madrid 0-1 Atletico Madrid: Five Talking Points

Lacklustre Real Madrid endured yet another embarrassment as they lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid at home, a result that all but ends their La Liga title tilt.Trailing leaders Barcelona by 9 points heading into the clash, it was imperative for Blancos to pick up maximum points to keep their faint league ambitions burning, but the defeat now leaves them in the danger of going 12 points behind should the Catalans beat Sevilla late on Sunday.After a humdrum opening 45 minutes where chances were few and far between, Antoine Grizemann broke the deadlock early after the break for the visitors with a clinical strike from 12 yards out. The hosts huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser, but Rojiblancos were too tough to beat.As Zinedine Zidane loses for the first time, we delve through some of the major talking points spruced up from the 212th Madrid derby.

#1 Real Madrid are just a flat-track bully

Another lacklustre performance from Real Madrid against a big team

And again, Real Madrid come up short against a ‘big team’ of the league. It has become their theme in La Liga for this campaign. Whilst they’ve been steamrolling past the minnows of the division with the ease of a bowling ball knocking down the skittles, they’ve equally stuttered against the bigger and better sides.

So as it has been the case all this season, Los Blancos were once again poor in their showings and lacked the spark with which they blew away the second-rate teams. Although Atletico were themselves quite underwhelming in the first half, at least they upped their game when the stakes got really high.

If anything, this game was another concrete proof that Real Madrid are nothing more than just a flat-track bully.

#2 Atletico get third time lucky

For the third year running, Atleti have managed to inflict humiliation on Real in front of their own fans

For the third consecutive time in La Liga, Atletico Madrid emerge the victorious side from the Santiago Bernabeu. Diego Simeone’s troops have successfully transmogrified from a punching bag to their more illustrious rivals to a force to be reckoned with, and with this win, continued to hold the bragging rights in the Spanish capital.

Los Indios won their first league game at the Bernabeu in 17 years, in September 2013, when Diego Costa’s lone strike handed the eventual champions the win, and almost a year later, beat Real 2-1 at the same venue again. Now for the third year running, Atleti have managed to inflict humiliation on them in front of their own fans.

There was a time a when Atletico Madrid came to the Bernabeu to get battered from pillar to post, but that’s in the past now.

#3 Griezmann\'s the saviour again

Griezmann scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann was once again the knight in the shining armor for his side as he netted the game’s only goal that would eventually hand his side a crucial victory.

The Frenchman has been a regular goal-scorer for Rojiblancos ever since he relocated to the red half of Madrid from the Basque country, and with another match-winning performance, highlighted his big-game pedigree.

Griezmann has rarely disappointed in the Atleti attack. The 24-year old has fired at most of the cylinders whenever he's started, and has been one of the best signings the club has made in a long time.

Fernando Torres may continue to rule the fans’ hearts, but it seems Antoine Griezmann may replace him there soon.

#4 Navas prevents a bigger damage

Navas saved Real from blushes

Like it’s been repeated all season like a broken tape-record, Keylor Navas continues to shine bright in an otherwise forlorn Real Madrid side. The Costa Rican made a few crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable, and was the only shining light amidst the dim show by the hosts.

In the first half where the teams were reluctant to get out of their shells, Navas had hardly anything to do, but still put out a confident show with some vital interceptions and excellent passes ahead. As Atleti grew into the game after the break, the former Levante shot-stopper was a busy man, yet didn’t put a wrong foot forward.

It was unfortunate for him to concede the goal, but the defence was largely at fault for that. Had it not been for Navas in between the sticks, the outcome would have made for a worse reading for Real Madrid.

#5 Another sorry ending to Real\'s league hopes

Real Madrid’s hopes of winning the La Liga this season have suffered a mammoth dent after the loss

Real Madrid may be cursed with some kind of mysterious whammy that’s keeping them from winning the La Liga title again. Last victors in 2012, Los Meringues have stuttered to reclaim domestic supremacy since, and this campaign paints no different picture.

Real Madrid's inability to sustain a rich vein of form on a long run has hurt them badly, and the consequences are that they’re out of the race already with 12 games still to play. Although there have been several issues both on and off the field that have plagued their campaign, the Whites never looked to recover from it.

The defeat today leaves them 9 points behind arch-rivals Barcelona having played a game more, and the gap can widen to 12 should they beat Sevilla at home tomorrow. To sum up, it's another sorry ending to Real Madrid's league title ambitions