Brahim Diaz scored a brilliant winner to give Real Madrid a slim benefit compared to City Rivals Atletico Madrid after the first stage of their Last-16-significance for Champions League.
In a Madrid derby defined by three moments of excellent individual sparkle, the contribution of Diaz turned out to be decisive for the second stage next Wednesday.
Rodrygo placed the hosts in the Bernabeu within four minutes when he sprinted past Javi Galan, cut in before he bowed a wonderful effort beyond Jan Oblak.
But after a nervy start of the game, Atletico settled quickly and recovered the parity in the 32nd minute with a stunning goal from Julian Alvarez.
The in-shape Athletico striker broke further than the challenge of Eduardo Camavinga on the right before he hit a spectacular curly strike around Thibaut Courtois and in the post.
Diego Simeone's side missed a glorious opportunity to get ahead in the second half after an error by Antonio Rudiger, but Rodrigo de Paul could not capitalize.
And that despite chance was punished two minutes later when Diaz, in for the suspended Jude Bellingham, was skilled in the box before he drove a low shot in the far corner.
Real should have increased their lead on its way to the second stage when Kylian Mbappe ran on the right on the right, but his cutback for Vinicius Junior was brilliantly intercepted by Marcos Llorente.
Debrief data: Diaz a thorn in the side of Atletico
There was a lot of pressure on Diaz's shoulders when he was chosen to replace Bellingham in the starting line-up, where the English international served a suspension of one game after picking up his third yellow card in the competition against Manchester City earlier this month.
But the Moroccan midfielder showed his quality against Atletico and became the fifth real player who scored in three different competitions against Simeone's side in the 21st century and joined Sergio Ramos (four), Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo.
But it was also a special evening for Madrid, who, with the exception of qualifications, achieved their 300th European Cup / Champions League win (G498 D85 L113), at least 63 more than any other team in the history of the competition (Bayern München in the second place on 237).
Although the benefit has in the draw, Madrid knows that they should be at their best to guarantee their place in the quarterfinals of the competition.
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