The Madrid derby was halted for 15 minutes after two PA announcements failed to stop supporters in the south stand at the Estadio Metropolitano from throwing missiles at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Coach Diego Simeone and captain Koke approached the end in an attempt to calm the situation, while Joséma Giménez engaged in a heated discussion with supporters, some of whom were wearing balaclavas. The referee, Mateo Busquets Ferrer, eventually took the teams off the pitch. They returned at 10.42pm, with around 20 minutes remaining, during which Atlético scored a late equalizer, with Angel Correa bundling in at the very end. According to La Liga protocols, another incident would have led to the permanent suspension of the match. Fortunately, that did not occur, but the fallout will continue.

The trouble, which occurred at the end where Atlético’s radical far-right supporters stand, began immediately after Madrid took the lead in the second half, when Courtois celebrated Eder Militão’s strike. The Madrid goalkeeper, who previously played for Atlético, alerted the referee to a couple of lighters that were thrown at him. More objects followed, despite warnings and gestures from Simeone for supporters to use their heads. Eventually, they returned, the game continuing late into the night, Madrid ultimately unable to hold on for a 1-0 victory set up by the Militão goal. Madrid reached a 40th game without defeat, dating back to the last time they came here in La Liga. Atlético, however, managed to secure a draw at 11.12pm.

An injury ruled out Kylian Mbappé, but the hope was that what they lost in goalscoring, with the Frenchman having scored in the last five games, they might gain in balance. Carlo Ancelotti did not replace him directly; instead, he chose an extra midfielder, Luka Modric. That, in theory, allowed Jude Bellingham to move a little closer to the forwards, and the territory from which he scored more than 20 times in his debut season. Simeone, meanwhile, broke with his normal structure, going with four at the back rather than five. Alex Sorloth, Julián Álvarez, and Antoine Griezmann all started. But if that looked like an attacking setup, the reality was a little different; Álvarez was more left midfielder than forward, although the best moments were his.

Conor Gallagher began in the center of the midfield alongside Marcos Llorente, the first big cheer coming when he won the ball 109 seconds in, a glimpse of the character that has made him so popular so fast. Soon after, Bellingham almost got to Modric’s pullback on the edge of the six-yard box. Another shot from the edge of the area was gathered by Jan Oblak. What was most noticeable about his opening period though was how often Bellingham was the one taking responsibility for bringing the ball out, appearing all over the pitch. There was intensity but not much clarity, still less creativity. When Oblak dived to deny Fede Valverde from 20 yards, he was furious at how much space Valverde had been given yet that was a one-off: it was rare that Madrid found the pitch opening before them; rare, in fact, that either of them did.

When Vinícius did get close to Oblak, the keeper stepped around him, a cheer rising with 70,000 heart rates here. The lack of fluidity was reflected in Koke’s introduction at half-time. Here was the promise of a little football, at last. Sorloth departed not long after, having been unable to truly influence this, Atlético reverting to a more familiar formation. Lino’s first run saw him find Álvarez inside the area, but he could not quite set up Rodrigo De Paul. The next time he set off, he ran straight into Valverde, which felt quite fitting. And then, just after the hour, the goal came. Modric took a free kick short, Vinícius clipped in a cross which through to the far post where Militão took a touch and struck a shot that went in off Llorente’s thigh.

In the celebrations, Courtois looked at the south end, then drew the referee’s attention to something that had been thrown at him from the stand behind the goal. A warning, delivered over the PA, did not stop it; more followed. Bottles, a plastic bag, a lighter. With Simeone and Koke appealing for the fans to stop, the referee brought the game to a halt. Simeone, on the pitch, had words with Courtois. Then the captain and the coach, along with Joséma Giménez, went to the end. There was a discussion between Giménez and a man in a black Stone Island polo shirt and a full balaclava mask with a skull painted on it. As they spoke, water came down upon the defender. More objects fell.

The referee took the teams off, the match suspended. From other areas of the stadium, many of them sick of the usual suspects, a far-right group with whom some of them are tired of being associated, whistled. Twice they had been warned over the tannoy, per the protocol; maybe this way they might learn. Once more and the game would be abandoned for good. Then came the delay, with the possibility of abandonment. Instead they played on. It would not be true to say that no one cared any more. There was singing and shouting and Atlético went in search of the equalizer, Madrid resisting, clinging in to what would have been a hugely significant victory. There were confrontations too. There was a huge groan when Antoine Griezmann was denied by a Courtois save and when the Belgian denied Angel Correa. And then there was a huge roar, this place going wild when the Argentinian ran through, got beyond Courtois and bundled the ball into the net. Ruled out at first for offside, VAR gave it back, a roar rocking this place. But that was no longer what would most stay with everyone here.