Atletico Beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Tense Derby

In a dramatic La Liga derby, Atletico Madrid defeated Real Madrid 2-1, despite the Spanish giants playing a man down after Dean Huijsen’s early second‑half dismissal. Atletico’s goals came from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David, while Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back for the hosts. The match was…

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 20 Sep 2026 20:42:44 GMT

In a La Liga clash that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Atletico Madrid edged a 10‑man Real Madrid 2‑1 on Sunday, pushing the Spanish giants into fifth place and leaving them six points behind leaders Barcelona.

Match Overview

The encounter, played at the Santiago Bernabéu, saw Atletico dominate the early stages, but a red card to Dean Huijsen in the second half turned the tide. With the hosts reduced to 10 men, Atletico capitalised on a penalty and a swift counter‑attack to secure victory.

Key Moments and Goals

0–1 – Alejandro Grimaldo: Early in the second half, Huijsen pulled down Giuliano Simeone in the penalty area. The VAR review confirmed a foul, awarding Atletico a penalty that Grimaldo calmly converted, giving the visitors a 1–0 lead.
1–1 – Antonio Rüdiger: In the closing minutes, Rüdiger headed a cross from Bernardo Silva past Jan Oblak, leveling the score and keeping the match alive for Real.
1–2 – Jonathan David: Seventeen minutes later, David tucked away a low cross from Simeone, restoring Atletico’s advantage and sealing the win.

Red Card Drama

Dean Huijsen’s dismissal early in the second half was the turning point. The defender’s tackle on Simeone led to a VAR‑confirmed penalty and his subsequent sending off, leaving Real Madrid to battle with 10 men for the remainder of the game.

Controversial Refereeing Calls

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho arrived at the post‑match press conference with a printed sheet of screenshots, pointing out two incidents he believed warranted red cards for Atletico players. The first involved Jude Bellingham and Cristian Romero in the 37th minute; Mourinho argued that Romero’s studs contact Bellingham’s knee should have been a straight red. The second was a tackle by Lee Kang‑in on Federico Valverde, which Mourinho said should have resulted in a red card as well. Both incidents were not penalised, and Mourinho expressed frustration that the refereeing decisions had a significant impact on the match.

Simeone’s Response

Atletico coach Diego Simeone countered Mourinho’s criticism by highlighting his team’s control throughout the game. He praised the defensive organisation and collective effort that allowed Atletico to dominate transitions and maintain pressure on the Real Madrid side.

Impact on the League Standings

With the loss, Real Madrid drops to fourth in the La Liga table, five points behind Barcelona and one point behind Atletico. The defeat is the second of the season for the Spanish giants, following a 1‑0 loss to Real Betis in September.

What Happens Next?

La Liga will resume on Friday, 9 October after an international break. Both teams will look to regroup and address the issues exposed in this derby, with Real Madrid needing to recover from a defensive lapse that led to the red card and Atletico aiming to maintain their momentum.

Key facts

Atletico won 2‑1 after Real were reduced to 10 men
Key goals from Grimaldo, Rüdiger, and David
Mourinho criticised refereeing, citing two red‑card incidents
Simeone praised Atletico’s control and defence
Real now sit fourth, five points behind Barcelona

Why it matters

The derby’s outcome reshapes the La Liga title race, with Real Madrid’s defeat tightening the gap to Barcelona and highlighting the influence of disciplinary actions on match results.