Zinedine Zidane relief as Real dominate the Madrid derby - in pictures

A 2-0 win for Los Blancos takes the heat off the coach

Casemiro celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's opening goal in the their 2-0 La Liga win over Altetico Madrid on December 13, 2020. AFP

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal celebrates with teammates after Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak scored an own goal. Reuters

Real French forward Karim Benzema. AFP

Real Dani Carvajal, left, celebrates the second goal. AP

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone. Reuters

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. AFP

Real Madrid players celebrate Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak's own goal. AFP

Real Madrid's Spanish defender Dani Carvajal celebrates. AFP

Casemiro, left, celebrates his goal. AFP

Manager Zinedine Zidane was delighted with Real Madrid's domination of Atletico as Los Blancos ended their derby rivals' 26-game unbeaten streak with a 2-0 win in La Liga.

Zidane said his side had been superior in all areas of the game in a victory at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium which took Real within three points of the leaders.

Casemiro headed Real in front from Toni Kroos's corner after 15 minutes, and Dani Carvajal's long-range effort bounced off a post and in off Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the second half.

The win followed Real's midweek Champions League success, when they topped their group with a 2-0 win over Borussia Monchenglabach.

"We played a very complete game again and in such a way, against a team that we know are very good, and who had 26 games without losing. I'm glad," Zidane said.

"We put on very good pressure. They weren't comfortable on the field and also for the whole game."

Zidane said Kroos, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema were all instrumental in the victory, but added Lucas Vazquez, Carvajal and indeed "everyone" had been "great".

"We interpreted the spaces very well... and by playing with rhythm and using diagonals we found the gaps," he said. "The (first) goal came from a corner, but then we had chances to score.

"It has been a good week, but above all I am happy for the players because they are the ones who fight and are on the field.

"They always believe in what they do and in the end, when you get things, it's very good. We must continue now, rest well."

Rival manager Diego Simeone had some stern words for his side after the loss, which also followed midweek qualification for the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-0 win over RB Salzburg.

"We have to improve. The criticism is fair and justified, but there's also what I'm saying," Simeone said.

"We put in a big effort the other day (against Salzburg). There were nerves about going out of the Champions League. There was a lot of emotional baggage, which I'm not using as an excuse, but it exists.

"We played badly today. The coach didn't have the clarity to see the game in the best way and the team didn't do what was asked of them."