Real Madrid, led by coach José Mourinho, suffered a 2-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in a highly anticipated derby match. The match, which took place on September 20, 2026, was marked by controversy, including the expulsion of Real Madrid's Spanish defender Dean Huijsen in the 50th minute for a foul on Atlético's Argentine player Giuliano Simeone. This setback proved costly for Real Madrid, as they struggled to contain Atlético's attacks.
The match got off to a tumultuous start, with Atlético Madrid taking the lead through a penalty scored by Alejandro Grimaldo in the 53rd minute. Grimaldo's goal was followed by another score from Jonathan David in the 59th minute, who capitalized on a center from Simeone to make it 2-0 in favor of Atlético. Real Madrid's task became even more daunting with the expulsion of Huijsen, leaving them with only 10 players on the field.
Despite being reduced to 10 players, Real Madrid managed to mount a late comeback, with German defender Antonio Rüdiger scoring a consolation goal in the 89th minute to make the final score 2-1. However, this was not enough to prevent Real Madrid from slipping to second place in the standings, with FC Barcelona taking a commanding six-point lead at the top.
The results of the 7th day of the Spanish championship saw several notable outcomes. FC Barcelona maintained their perfect record with a 1-3 win over Sevilla FC, while Atlético Madrid's victory over Real Madrid propelled them to second place. Other results included a 1-1 draw between Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano, and a 5-0 win for Celta Vigo over Santander.
In the wake of this defeat, Real Madrid's coach José Mourinho faces mounting pressure to turn the team's fortunes around. The team's performance has been inconsistent so far in the season, and the loss to Atlético Madrid has exposed some of the weaknesses that need to be addressed. With the transfer window now closed, Mourinho will have to work with the players at his disposal to improve the team's results.
The current standings of the Spanish championship see FC Barcelona at the top with 21 points, followed closely by Atlético Madrid with 16 points. Real Madrid sits in fourth place with 15 points, while Sevilla FC and Betis Séville round out the top five with 13 and 16 points respectively. The competition is heating up, with several teams still in with a chance of winning the title.
The next matchday will be crucial for Real Madrid as they look to bounce back from this defeat. The team will need to regroup and refocus their efforts to stay in contention for the championship. Meanwhile, FC Barcelona will look to extend their lead when they take to the field, aiming to build on their impressive start to the season.
Key points
- Real Madrid's defeat to Atlético Madrid allows FC Barcelona to take a six-point lead in the Spanish championship.
