Atlético Madrid secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over 10-man Real Madrid in the first Madrid derby of the La Liga season at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on September 20. The result moved Atlético above their city rivals in the league standings.
The match remained goalless in the first half, but the contest changed early after the break when Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was shown a red card following a VAR review for pulling down Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area. Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty to give Atlético the lead.
Just six minutes later, Jonathan David doubled Atlético’s advantage, finishing from close range after a move involving Giuliano Simeone. Real Madrid managed to respond late, with Antonio Rüdiger heading in during the 89th minute, but Atlético held on for all three points.
The derby was also marked by several disciplinary and VAR-related incidents, adding further tension to an already intense encounter. Atlético’s victory lifted them to second place, while Real Madrid suffered their second league defeat of the campaign.
The derby was also surrounded by several controversial refereeing and VAR decisions. Real Madrid later disputed some of the decisions made during the match, while the Huijsen dismissal remained the key turning point of the contest.
The victory moved Atlético Madrid to second place with 16 points, while Real Madrid suffered their second league defeat of the campaign. The result also kept Atlético ahead of their city rivals in the early La Liga standings.
The derby also highlighted the importance of disciplinary decisions, with Huijsen’s dismissal becoming the key moment that changed the balance of the match. Real Madrid had chances to respond, but playing with 10 men made it difficult to sustain pressure against Atlético in the second half.
For Atlético, the victory continued their strong home record against Real Madrid and provided another memorable chapter in one of Spanish football’s most intense rivalries. For Real Madrid, the defeat leaves them needing to respond in their upcoming fixtures as the La Liga title race begins to take shape.