Atletico Madrid emerged victorious in a highly contested Madrid derby against 10-man Real Madrid on Sunday, September 20, 2026. The match, which took place at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, ended with a 2-1 win for Atletico. The first half was fiercely contested and ended goalless. However, the game burst into life three minutes after the restart when Dean Huijsen was sent off following a VAR review for pulling down Giuliano Simeone.
Huijsen's red card proved decisive as Atletico capitalized on their numerical advantage. Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty in the 53rd minute, sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way to give Atletico the lead. Grimaldo's goal was a crucial turning point in the match, and Atletico quickly doubled their lead six minutes later through Jonathan David, who slid in to convert Giuliano Simeone’s cross.
Jonathan David's goal was his third in as many La Liga appearances and gave Diego Simeone’s side a commanding advantage against their city rivals. The goal also highlighted David's impressive form in the league, making him a key player for Atletico. Real struggled to respond while playing with a man fewer, although they continued to search for a route back into the contest.
Antonio Rudiger eventually gave Real hope in the 89th minute when he headed Bernardo Silva’s free-kick past Jan Oblak. However, Atletico held on through the closing stages to secure the win. The victory lifted Atletico above Real Madrid into second place in La Liga, with Simeone’s side moving to 16 points.
The win also marked Simeone’s first victory over Jose Mourinho in a Madrid derby, having lost their previous three meetings during Mourinho’s first spell at Real. This result was a significant milestone for Simeone, who has been managing Atletico for several years. For Real, the defeat was their second in seven La Liga matches since Mourinho returned to the club.
The loss leaves Real six points behind unbeaten Barcelona after seven matches. Barcelona currently leads the league with 21 points, while Atletico sits in second place with 16 points. The result was a significant blow to Real's title hopes, and they will need to regroup and refocus for their upcoming matches.
The Madrid derby was a highly anticipated match, and the result had significant implications for the league standings. Atletico's victory was a testament to their determination and resilience, and they will look to build on this momentum in their future matches. The defeat, on the other hand, will give Real Madrid plenty to think about as they look to bounce back from this setback.
Key points
- Atletico Madrid defeated 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a fiery Madrid derby on Sunday.
- Dean Huijsen's second-half red card proved decisive in the match.
- The victory lifted Atletico above Real Madrid into second place in La Liga.
