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Tempers flared during the Champions League Madrid derby on Tuesday night, with Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz confronting Atletico boss Diego Simeone after he scored the winner.
Diaz scored the decisive goal to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side a slim 2-1 lead going into the second leg at the Metropolitano next week, after Julian Alvarez cancelled out Rodrygo’s fourth-minute opener.
His 55th-minute strike was a moment of individual brilliance and fancy footwork, as out of nothing he darted into the box, dodged a pack of Atletico shirts and slotted into the far right corner.
But it was most notable for his celebration later on, as he squared up to Simeone and shouted in his face, “Speak now! Speak now! Speak now! You spoke yesterday! Speak now!”
The words, picked up by Spanish TV, appeared to be in response to Simeone’s comments in his pre-match press conference.
The Argentine was asked who would step up for Real Madrid in the absence of Jude Bellingham, who was suspended for the game after picking up his third yellow card of the competition against Manchester City last month.
“Real Madrid will seek to compensate for that position, I imagine with Camavinga and Luka Modric,” he said. “There is also the possibility of Brahim, but I don’t think so. Obviously, there is a pattern that repeats itself.”
But Simeone was made to eat his words at the Bernabeu, although he later denied all knowledge of the exchange, reportedly saying he “didn’t see anything”.
Aggression and needle are normally hallmarks of any Madrid derby but aside from Diaz’s outburst this game was remarkably free of them, with both sides appearing to conserve some energy for the all-important second leg.
