Real Madrid youngster Alvaro Rodriguez, on Saturday evening, etched his name indellibly into the history books of Spanish football.
For those not aware, Los Blancos were back in action a short time ago.
Fresh off a remarkable drubbing of Liverpool in the Champions League in midweek, Carlo Ancelotti’s troops turned their attentions back towards matters on the domestic front, in a La Liga showdown with capital rivals Atletico.
Real headed into proceedings in the knowledge that a victory was something of a must, amid ongoing efforts to hunt down runaway leaders Barcelona atop the Spanish top-flight.
When all was said and done, though, the evening’s hosts were ultimately forced to make do with a share of the spoils.
It was Atleti who opened the scoring in the clash, when Jose Gimenez connected with Antoine Griezmann’s free-kick to nod a fine header beyond Thibaut Courtois a little over ten minutes from time:
A huge leap from Jose Gimenez sees Atletico take the lead at the Bernabeu!! 🤩
Could this spell trouble for Real Madrid’s title hopes…? 😳#ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/7ebXswBEoo
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 25, 2023
And it was the aforementioned Rodriguez who proved himself the hero.
After catching the eye courtesy of a stellar cameo off the bench en route to a 2-0 downing of Osasuna last weekend, the gifted young striker was rewarded by boss Ancelotti with another late introduction on Saturday.
And what an impact he went on to make.
Following Eder Militao in midweek in getting on the end of a pinpoint Luka Modric set-piece, Rodriguez drove a superb header in off the far post to ensure that Los Blancos emerged with a hard-earned share of the spoils:
MASSIVE goal for 18-year-old Alvaro Rodriguez who equalises for Real Madrid!! 🤩
The LaLiga champions are back in the game!#ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/WcldBP4VRS
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 25, 2023
And, as alluded to above, in the process, the Uruguayan youth international made history.
This came as Rodriguez surpassed Gonzalo Higuain to establish himself as the youngest player to find the net in a La Liga meeting between Real and Atletico Madrid in the 21st century.
1 – At 18 years and 226 days, Álvaro Rodríguez has become the youngest player to score in a derby between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid in LaLiga in the 21st century, surpassing Gonzalo Higuaín’s previous record set in 2007 (19 years and 76 days). Impact. pic.twitter.com/dFVIDhtVbR
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 25, 2023
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