Real Madrid 2, Atlético de Madrid 1 Real Madrid overcame city rivals Atlético de Madrid by 2-1 in a physical encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night.

First half goals from Italian signing Antonio Cassano and Brazilian Julio Baptista gave los merengues a valuable three points.

Mateja Kezman played hero and villain for the visitors hitting the target before producing a glaring miss. The hosts took the lead as early as the fourth minute when Zinedine Zidane cleverly released teammate Roberto Carlos on the left flank. The full back raced down the wing before lifting an accurate cross into the area where it appeared the Atlético defence had disappeared.

Cassano rose unmarked and placed his header back across Leo Franco and into the corner of the net. It was a dream start for the attacker who was chosen to start ahead of Rául and Ronaldo.

Atléti, without star Argentine players Ariel Ibagaza and Maxi Rodriguez probed the hosts in search of the equaliser and it arrived after 27 minutes. With Real clearing their lines hurriedly, the ball dropped for long-range specialist Peter Luccin. The French international thumped a shot low along the floor and looked on as Kezman cleverly flicked past Iker Casillas from close range.

Shortly afterwards Kezman produced an horrendous miss that would prove crucial to the outcome of the game. Chasing Ivan Helguera back into the Real area, the Serbia striker unnerved his opponent who stumbled and handed possession to Kezman right in front of the target. With just Casillas to beat, the Atlético marksman blazed high over the crossbar from eight yards.

Just moments later and Kezman's miss took on huge significance when Real took the lead four minutes before the break. Released down the right hand side, David Beckham appeared marginally offside as he angled towards the box. His low pass then appeared to catch Antonio Cassano offside, the Italian arriving together with Baptista with the latter appearing to get the final touch that took the ball past Leo Franco in the Atlético goal.

The second half was a volatile affair with a plethora of fouls and scuffles between players resulting in a poor spectacle. Atlético went close to equalising first through a strike from Gabi that whizzed inches wide and then from an effort from Perea.

In a match that produced more than 50 fouls, Real may have emerged with a problem heading into their crucial midweek Champions League decider against Arsenal. With just under 20 minutes to go, Zinedine Zidane was cynically hacked down by Galletti on the left and the Frenchman hobbled off shortly afterwards.

Atlético thus failed in their attempt to make it seven wins in-a-row while new Real Madrid President Fernando Martín will have been pleased to get his reign off to a winning start.

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