Atlético Madrid

While we’d love for the VAR to fix all of soccer’s officiating problems, the truth is that it hasn’t really curbed one of the game’s most frustrating problems: simulation. Because any bit of contact can be picked up by the VAR, players are almost rewarded for going down under slight contact. 

But there has to be that contact, and if there is none, VAR will undoubtedly punish any offender trying to fool the refs. 

Up until the 88th minute, it looked as though Luis Suárez’s elegant opening goal in the 15th minute would decide Sunday’s massive Madrid derby. Atlético had established its LaLiga title credentials by playing some mesmerizing football in the first half, but Real Madrid made Diego Simeone’s side revert to its defensive-minded approach in the second before Karim Benzema captured a dramatic equalizer at the Wanda Metropolitano with minutes remaining.

MADRID - LaLiga leaders Atlético Madrid host neighbors Real Madrid on Sunday in a potentially pivotal game in the title race.

Real sit third, level on 53 points with Barcelona and five behind Atlético who have a game in hand on their rivals.

Zinedine Zidane's side dropped points on Monday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Real Sociedad and another slip-up could prove fatal in the bid to retain their crown.

He’s a big beefcake who peaked late, so Olivier Giroud was never going to be given the credit he deserves. But the World Cup winner has scored and created enough golazos that what he did on Tuesday was not at all surprising. 

Filipe Luís stepped out of the European spotlight in 2019 when he decided to return to his native Brazil to join Flamengo. There, at the age of 35, he continues to set the standard at left-back and is an undisputed starter for Rogério Ceni.