Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Rafael Benitez defends tactics in Real Madrid draw: 'Give credit to Atletico'

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez lamented two points dropped after his side drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in Sunday night's underwhelming La Liga derbi at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, while denying his own cautious tactics had allowed their opponents back into the game.

Madrid looked well in control and set to go top of the La Liga table after Karim Benzema headed the game's first goal after just nine minutes, and especially after Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann had a penalty saved by Blancos keeper Keylor Navas.

But the game turned in the last 10 minutes and Atletico substitute Jackson Martinez set up fellow replacement and fellow summer arrival Luciano Vietto for an equaliser that keeps Diego Simeone's side close by in a very crowded early season Primera Division table.

The Los Blancos coach told his postmatch news conference that his team had been in control of proceedings and should have been able to kill off the game on the break.

"We have dropped two points," Benitez said. "We were ahead and we have made mistakes, with the penalty and the goal. We lacked precision on the break. We could have scored a second goal in the first half."

The Madrid-born tactician, who started Brazilian youngster Casemiro as an extra holding midfielder and left fit-again galactico Gareth Bale on the bench, denied a suggestion that he had been too cautious with his selection or tactics.

"No," Benitez said. "We must give credit to Atletico, who were intense. We did not finish off our counters. In the first half we played to win, we dominated and controlled the game knowing what we had to do. In the second half they put in more intensity, and we had eight counterattacks, but were not accurate with the last or penultimate pass."

Goalscorer Benzema, who has scored his side's last four La Liga goals, was withdrawn late on with Madrid still 1-0 up, in a substitution Benitez explained afterward.

"We lacked a bit of freshness on the left wing, it was a about adjusting things with Bale's speed and to put Cristiano, who is a threat, up front," Rafa said. "That way we balanced the team."

Right-back Dani Carvajal, who provided the excellent cross for Benzema's early goal, looks to be the latest Los Blancos player set for a spell on the sidelines after he limped off during the first half.

"[Carvajal] has twisted his knee," Benitez said. "We will have to see how it recovers."

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