Real Madrid beat neighbors Atletico Madrid 3-2 in the Madrid derby in the Spanish first division soccer league on Saturday night.
Real should have had the game completely under control after leading on 3-0 with just 12 minutes to play, but their neighbors scored two goals in a minute and had it not been for a fine save from Iker Casillas in injury time, Atletico would have taken a point that its spirit deserved, even though its football did not.
Atletico went into the game following the morale boost that was last week's 2-2 draw against Chelsea in the Champions League.
Real Madrid's Kaka (C) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring against Atletico Madrid during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid November 7, 2009.
However, it didn't take long for Quique Sanchez Flores' side to be quickly brought back to reality after Kaka opened the scoring for Real Madrid after just five minutes.
Sergio Ramos looked to have fouled Atletico's Kleber Santana and the loose ball fell to Kaka, who smacked an unstoppable 25 yard shot into the corner of the Atletico net.
Atletico were clearly shaken and Real had the upper hand as the home side was unable to keep possession or deal with the pace of either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain.
Lassana Diarra went close with another shot before Marcelo doubled Real's advantage. Benzema did well in the Atletico area and fed the ball to the Brazilian who scored with a right foot shot from a tight angle.
That sparked a timid Atletico reaction. Diego Forlan went close with a shot into the side netting before Simao Sabroso failed in a one on one with Iker Casillas in the last minute of the half.
Atletico also complained that Diarra should have been sent off for a second yellow card after a clear foul from behind on Jose Manuel Jurado. However, the referee Clos Gomez totally ignored the foul and Real remained with 11 on the pitch.
Quique introduced striker Kun Aguero for Atletico at the start of the second half, but his move looked to be in vain after Higuain capitalized on a dreadful Luis Perea mistake to make it 3-0 after 73 minutes.
Perea dwelt on the ball allowing Higuain to steal possession before advancing on goal and beating Asenjo with a low shot.
Forlan pulled a goal back after 78 minutes with a low shot and Augero got Atletico right back into the game with another goal a minute later.
Cheered on by the fans in the Calderon, Atletico threw everything at Madrid in the last 10 minutes and was close to saving a point, but Iker Casillas' late save made all of the difference and Real remains a point behind Barcelona in second place in the league table.
Real Madrid's goalkeeper Iker Casillas celebrates after the final whistle of their Spanish first division soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid November 7, 2009. Real Madrid won 3-2