Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in feisty La Liga derby | Football
Atletico Madrid Defeats Real Madrid 2-1 in La Liga Derby
Published September 20, 2026
Atletico Madrid claimed a 2-1 victory over a 10-man Real Madrid in a closely contested La Liga derby on Sunday, further extending the gap between Madrid and league leaders Barcelona to six points.
The match turned in favor of Atletico after Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen received a red card early in the second half for pulling down Giuliano Simeone in the penalty area. Alejandro Grimaldo capitalized on the ensuing penalty to give Atletico the lead. Jonathan David added a second goal for the hosts, while Antonio Rudiger scored a late goal for Real Madrid.
With this victory, Atletico moved up to second place in the standings, five points shy of Barcelona and one point ahead of Real Madrid, who are now facing their second defeat of the season.
The first half was marked by a lack of scoring opportunities, as both teams struggled to create clear chances. A significant moment occurred when Jude Bellingham collided with Atletico defender Cristian Romero. Initially booked for the challenge, Bellingham had his card revoked following a VAR review, which instead issued a yellow card to Romero.
Discontent brewed among the Madrid players after a heavy tackle by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde went unpunished just before halftime. The match was characterized by intensity but fell short of showcasing the talent of players like Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Bellingham.
The momentum shifted shortly after the break when Huijsen fouled Simeone in the penalty area, leading to a VAR review that confirmed the red card. Grimaldo’s successful conversion from the penalty spot set the stage for Atletico’s comeback.
In response, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho substituted the disappointing Vinicius and Arda Guler, bringing on club record signing Yan Diomande and Rudiger to revitalize the squad. However, it was Atletico who extended their lead in the 59th minute when David scored his third goal in as many matches, finishing a low cross from Simeone.
Atletico continued to threaten, with Grimaldo’s effort denied by a brilliant save from Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and a crucial clearance from Ibrahima Konate.
Despite Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak making a save from Diomande, Real Madrid eventually fought back in the closing minutes when Rudiger headed in a cross from Bernardo Silva. However, the late goal proved insufficient as Atletico secured the win.
The match concluded with a sense of frustration for Real Madrid, who were unable to alter the course of the game after Huijsen’s dismissal.
