Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid

First-half goals from Karim Benzema and Mesut Oezil ensured Jose Mourinho's men earned another derby win to keep up the pace with Barcelona...

Karim Benzema and Mesut Oezil did the damage in the first-half as Real Madrid picked up their fourth derby win this season with a 2-1 win over Atletico.

Benzema opened the scoring on 11 minutes with a clever chipped finish while Oezil doubled the lead against the run of play on 33 minutes. Sergio Aguero scored a consolation goal four minutes from time but los Blancos were able to hold onto their slender lead to secure a valuable win.

After Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Getafe earlier on Saturday evening, the victory over los Colchoneros moves Jose Mourinho's side back to within five points of the current leaders with the two giants of Spanish football due to meet at the Bernabeu next month.

The first chance of the game fell to Madrid on six minutes. Karim Benzema controlled the ball well before sliding an accurate pass through to Sami Khedira just inside the Atletico box. The German international hit the ball first time but David de Gea was able to make a smart save down to his right.

Los Blancos continued to look the livelier of the two sides and got their just rewards in the 11th minute. Sami Khedira sent a delightful pass into the direction of Benzema who ran through on goal before nonchalantly flicking the ball past a helpless de Gea for his seventh goal in his last four La Liga games.

The home side started to see more of the ball after Madrid's opener and came close to levelling the score on 20 minutes when Elias found Sergio Aguero on the edge of the box. The Argentinian controlled the ball before sending a vicious low drive towards the corner of the goal which Iker Casillas did well to turn around the past.

Three minutes later Mario Suarez sent a lovely disguised pass through to Aguero who smashed the ball across goal with Forlan lurking. Fortunately for los Blancos, Xabi Alonso was on hand to hack the ball to safety.

After starting to dominate play, Atletico were dealt a hammer blow on 33 minutes when Madrid doubled their lead. Marcelo crossed the ball to Mesut Oezil who sidefooted his shot first time on the edge of the box past De Gea despite the young 'keeper getting a hand to the ball.



Atletico started the second half with added impetus and could have pulled a goal back on 54 minutes, if it wasn't for the brilliance of Casillas. Tiago slid a perfectly weighted through ball to Aguero who outpaced the Madrid defence before finding himself one-on-one with the Spanish No. 1. The Atleti striker attempted to poke the ball home but Casillas showed excellent reactions to turn it around the post.

It was Madrid's turn to come close to scoring on 69 minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema showed some excellent build-up play before the Portuguese attacker unleashed a fearsome effort from a tight angle that lashed into the side-netting.

However, Los Colchoneros kept attacking until the end and scored a consolation on 86 minutes when Aguero played a lovely one-two with substitute Koke before squeezing the ball past Casillas for the goal his impressive performance deserved.

Atletico travel to Osasuna after the international break in a fortnight's time while Madrid entertain Sporting Gijon at the Bernabeu.