Atletico Madrid secured a stunning 2-1 victory over 10-man Real Madrid in the first Madrid derby of the La Liga season on Sunday. The win marked a significant result for Atletico's manager, Diego Simeone, who had previously lost all three of his La Liga meetings with Real Madrid's manager, José Mourinho. The match was closely contested in the first half, with Atletico managing only 0.19 expected goals before the break.
Real Madrid's hopes were severely damaged when defender Dean Huijsen was sent off in the second half. Huijsen was shown a yellow card after pulling back Giuliano Simeone, who was through on goal inside the box. After reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias changed the decision to a straight red card. This turning point in the match allowed Atletico to capitalize and take control.
Atletico were awarded a penalty shortly after Huijsen's dismissal, and Alejandro Grimaldo calmly converted in the 53rd minute to give the home side the lead. Real Madrid tried to respond, but Atletico soon doubled their advantage. Giuliano Simeone delivered a cross that Jonathan David turned into the net, making David the first Atletico player in the 21st century to score in each of his first three La Liga appearances for the club.
Atletico had chances to add a third goal, with Julián Alvarez seeing his effort cleared off the line by Ibrahima Konaté, and Thibaut Courtois making an important save to deny Cristian Romero. Real Madrid eventually pulled one goal back in the 89th minute when Antonio Rüdiger headed home from Bernardo Silva's free kick. However, Atletico held on during the closing stages to secure a 2-1 victory.
The result was particularly significant for Simeone, who had lost all three of his previous La Liga meetings with Mourinho when the Portuguese manager was in his first spell at Real Madrid. This win marked a turning point in their managerial rivalry. Atletico's victory means Simeone has finally beaten Mourinho in a La Liga meeting, while Real Madrid were left to rue Huijsen's second-half dismissal and their limited attacking threat.
Real Madrid's star player, Kylian Mbappé, struggled to make an impact in the match, managing only one shot during the game. Vinícius Júnior was also unable to influence the game before he was substituted. Atletico's victory was a testament to their improved performance after half-time, finishing the match with 2.38 expected goals, while Real Madrid recorded just 0.32 expected goals, their lowest total in a La Liga match since February 2015.
The win marked a crucial result for Atletico Madrid, who had been struggling to create clear chances in the first half. The match was a thrilling derby, with both teams creating opportunities, but Atletico's efficiency in front of goal ultimately secured their victory. The result brings new dynamics to the La Liga season, with both teams looking to build on their performances in the upcoming matches.
Key points
- Atletico Madrid's manager, Diego Simeone, secured his first La Liga win against José Mourinho.
- Real Madrid's defender, Dean Huijsen, was sent off in the second half, changing the course of the match.
- Jonathan David became the first Atletico player in the 21st century to score in each of his first three La Liga appearances for the club.
