Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid: 5 talking points

Defending champions Real Madrid emerged 1-0 victors over city rivals Atletico Madrid to ensure a place in the last 4 of the Champions league for the fifth year running. Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez scored just two minutes from time to send Rojiblancos out packing.Just like the first leg, Real dominated the game right from the start and created the better chances going forward. The visitors though, held their nerves and denied the home side from taking the lead but went one man down when Arda Turan was sent off for his second bookable offence.For all their efforts, Real finally found the breakthrough just 2 minutes from time when Cristiano Ronaldo stabbed a pass into the path of Chicharito, who poked the ball into an unguarded net. The Whites keep their title aspirations alive and here are the 5 talking points from the game.

#1 Real finally break the jinx and at the right time

After the historic La Decima success in Lisbon last summer, Real Madrid played Atletico Madrid on 8 occasions this season, starting with the Spanish Super Cup at the cusp of the season, which they ended up losing. They then faced each other twice in the league, and the white half lost both the ties.

Los Blancos, in between, crossed swords with their neighbours even in the Copa Del Rey and were at the losing end yet again. And then came the most important contest of them all – the Champions League.

After the first round stalemate, Real went 7 matches without a win against Atletico and thereby the game at the Bernabeu was the most important tie of the season. And they finally did emerge as winners.

Just when it seemed that the game was heading towards the extra-time, Chicharito, who squandered quite a few chances on the night, was set-up by Ronaldo and the Mexican nonchalantly poked the ball into an empty net to propel his side into the last 4. Real successfully broke the 9-month hoodoo but more importantly, at the right time.