Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid in a thrilling extra-time triumph in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, despite own-goals, goalkeeping errors, and a milestone by Antoine Griezmann.
Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 5-3 thanks to two late goals from Griezmann, who eclipsed Luis Aragonés as Atletico's all-time leading scorer with 174 goals.
Madrid will face either Barcelona or Osasuna in the final on Sunday, with the latter meeting on Thursday in Riyadh.
"It was a back-and-forth match," remarked Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. "They played well in the first half, and we were able to improve in the second." Both teams performed admirably. It was a fantastic contest, and we prevailed because we had a little more energy at the end."
Atletico took the lead six minutes in with a header by Mario Hermoso after a cross by Griezmann, but Madrid responded with goals by Antonio Rüdiger in the 20th and Ferland Mendy in the 29th.
Griezmann scored his 100th goal in the 37th minute with a right-footed low effort from outside the box following a clever move to reverse directions and get past defenders. Since tying Aragonés with a pair of goals against Getafe in the Spanish league in December, the France forward has gone scoreless in three straight outings.
An own-goal by Rüdiger in the 78th minute put Atletico back in front, but Dani Carvajal equalised in the 85th to force extra time. Rüdiger's own goal occurred as a result of a blunder by Madrid custodian Kepa Arrizabalaga while going for a cross into the box. Kepa couldn't keep hold of the ball, and it ricocheted off Rüdiger and into the net.
Madrid took the lead late in extra time when Atletico defender Stefan Savic found his own net while attempting to intercept a Carvajal cross in the 116th minute, and Brahim Daz sealed Madrid's victory in stoppage time by hitting the open net after Atletico custodian Jan Oblak had left his area to assist the attack in the other direction. Daz raced around Oblak near midfield to get to the ball and put it into an open net.
Daz received the game's only yellow card for removing his shirt during the celebration. Since 1974, no Madrid derby has gone without a yellow card.
It was the first of three meetings between the Madrid rivals in less than a month. They will also face each other in the Copa del Rey next week at Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium, and in the Spanish league in February at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Madrid has won its previous five games in all competitions and is on a 20-match unbeaten streak. The team's sole defeat this season came in September against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league.
After that home win against Real Madrid, Diego Simeone's team went on a strong run, advancing to the knockout round of the Champions League and climbing near the top of the Spanish league, but it has now won only two of its last six matches in all competitions and dropped out of the Champions League places in the Spanish league.
Atletico and Madrid also played in the 2020 Super Cup final, with Madrid winning on penalties in what was the competition's first visit to Saudi Arabia as part of a lucrative multi-year deal for the clubs and the Spanish soccer association.
The audience remained relatively silent during Wednesday's game, and there appeared to be jeers during the moment of respect in honour of German legend Franz Beckenbauer, who died this week.
The Saudi crowd booed Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who has criticised elite players' decision to play in Saudi Arabia.
The Super Cup's unique "final four" format pairs the top two teams from last season's Spanish league against the last two Copa del Rey finalists.
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