Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid score: Karim Benzema starts and scores as Los Blancos take Madrid derby

Los Blancos have taken full control of first place in La Liga

A lot can happen between now and May, but as we approach the end of the calendar year, there is one clear favorite for the La Liga title. First-place Real Madrid welcomed last season's champions Atletico Madrid to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, scoring in each half to top their rivals, 2-0, in the Madrid derby.

The big storyline entering the match was whether star strikers Karim Benzema (Real) and Luis Suarez (Atletico) would play as they dealt with injury issues. They both saw the pitch, but only Benzema started. In the end, he made all of the difference. The French superstar scored the winning goal with an audacious volley before Marco Asensio made it 2-0 before the hour mark.

The win sees Real maintain an eight-point lead atop the table over Sevilla, while Atletico are at risk of falling out of the top four, suffering back-to-back defeats in the league. 

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Here are three takeaways from the match:

Benzema and Vinicius on another level

There is no greater tandem in La Liga than Benzema and Vinicius, and they showed it again here. In the 14th minute, Benzema got things going, with the ball ending up out wide to the Brazilian. His speed allowed him to get toward the endline before delivering what was a perfect ball to his striker. What Benzema did has to be seen to be believed. Take a look:

An absolutely perfect goal, and one that was worthy of being the winner. Atleti, with a make-shift backline once again, didn't have enough quality there to keep up.

As for Benzema and Vinicius, don't be shocked if they both finish the season with over 20 goals in La Liga each.

The Real domination has returned

When Diego Simeone arrived at Atleti in 2011, things quickly changed. Madrid had long been a city dominated by Real, but the Argentine boss has won La Liga twice, reached two Champions League finals and turned Los Colchoneros into an average club into a big one. But for the last good bit, this rivalry hasn't been much of one. 

Discount Atleti losing both of their UCL finals to Real for a second... in the last 11 meetings between the two in La Liga, Real are unbeaten. 

A city that was once red and white not long ago has been completely white for a few years now. Sunday's match was just the latest example of Real's domination.

Curious move from Simeone doesn't pay off

Upon seeing the starting XI, I did not like the decision of starting Matheus Cunha up top in place of Suarez. If the Uruguayan could't play, I think clearly you opt for Joao Felix or put Angel Correa there, and both played in this match. Felix came off the bench and Correa started in the middle.

As for Cunha, there is nothing wrong with the player. He's a sensational young talent who really wowed me while at RB Leipzig before leaving for Hertha Berlin. But he entered this match with nine games played for Atleti and just one goal. He did have a team-high two shots, but Felix had the same amount in 15 minutes less. His xG was just 0.12, while Felix registered a 0.36 in the second half. 

Cunha lasted just an hour, and credit to Simeone for making the decision to take him off, but he had no business starting as he still hasn't adjusted to the team's style.

[Dec 12, 2021 at 4:24 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

2-0 to Real!

Asensio with a slick finish as he falls down in the box, going low to the far post to beat Oblak! Real Madrid double their lead and are in full control!!! Well deserved as Atleti have been left stunned.

[Dec 12, 2021 at 4:13 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Better from Atleti

Joao Felix with a powerful shot from the top of the box that goes right at Courtois. A decent look though, and Simeone is pleased with how his team has started the second half. 

[Dec 12, 2021 at 3:52 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

First half over

It's Real Madrid 1, Atletico 0 at the break. Benzema's strike the difference in the first session. Clearly superior so far from Los Blancos, with the pressure on Atleti to make adjustments in the second half. Will we see Luis Suarez shortly?

[Dec 12, 2021 at 3:36 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Nothing doing for the Atleti attack ... yet

Half an hour into this one, and Atleti don't have a shot on goal. They don't need much to make their mark, but Real are defending well. Simeone's team simply cannot win in the middle so far, struggling to break the lines. Let's see if he is aggressive in his substitutions. I think he will be. Give me Luis Suarez and Joao Felix, with the latter dropping a bit into the midfield to try and get things going.

[Dec 12, 2021 at 3:27 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

The Benzema goal

[Dec 12, 2021 at 3:20 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

16' GOAL REAL! BENZEMA!

WHAT A GOAL!!!! An incredible strike from the French star! He volleys home a violent strike from the top of the box, and Oblak had no chance!!!

[Dec 12, 2021 at 3:11 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

7' Dangerous free kick coming

Better from Atleti in the early moments as Angel Correa earns a short corner, essentially, after being taken down by Alaba ... Carrasco takes the free kick short, and Real are able to clear the danger.

[Dec 12, 2021 at 2:52 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Not long to go now until kickoff. Boy is this a big spot for Cunha for Atleti, and it seems quite telling that he also starts over Joao Felix. There is no denying his talent, but can the Brazilian deliver in such a massive game? So far, he's got one goal in nine career games for Los Colchoneros. 

[Dec 12, 2021 at 2:27 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

A look at the teams without their strikers

I took a look at how these teams have performed without their No. 9s over the last few years. Here's an excerpt from Saturday's story:

Benzema has missed just two games for Real since the start of the season. First there was the Oct. 30 win over Elche before this week's 2-0 win over Inter. That's a nice 2-0-0 record. And in the last 10 games he's missed dating back to the 2019 season, Real have only lost once. But since September of 2017, he's missed 17 games, with Real losing four of the matches, failing to win seven. As for Suarez, he hasn't missed a game this season, but in 27 games he's missed since February 2020, Atleti have lost just once.

Generally speaking, the teams have been able to weather the storms without their strikers, though Atleti considerably better. So if neither can go, there is a clear advantage to Atleti simply due to the quality in attack. While Benzema and Vinicius have quite the chemistry up top, Atleti simply have the better overall depth and options and can get a bit more out of their midfield. In last season's La Liga-winning campaign, midfielder Marcos Llorente scored 12 times in the league for Atletico, with Angel Correa getting nine and Joao Felix seven. All of those players are back this season, with club legend Antoine Griezmann also back with six goals in all competitions. Six players have already scored multiple goals this season for Los Colchoneros.