Atletico Real Madrid: Huijsen’s red card changed the balance
Atletico Real Madrid delivered another dramatic derby as Atlético Madrid beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Metropolitano.
Real Madrid were reduced to ten men after Dean Huijsen was sent off, and Atlético took advantage with goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David. Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back late, but Atlético held on to secure the victory.
The result moved Atlético into second place in LaLiga with 16 points, one ahead of Real Madrid and Real Betis.
1. Dean Huijsen’s red card changed the balance
The most important moment came when Dean Huijsen was shown a red card after fouling Giuliano Simeone.
The dismissal left Real Madrid with ten men and forced them to defend deeper for the remainder of the match.
Atlético immediately gained more control and began attacking with greater confidence.
2. Grimaldo converted from the penalty spot
Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute.
That goal gave Atlético the advantage shortly after Real had gone down to ten men and completely changed the momentum of the match.
Real were suddenly forced to chase the game while short-handed.
3. Jonathan David doubled Atlético’s lead
Just six minutes later, Jonathan David made it 2-0 from close range.
The second goal punished Real for failing to regain defensive organisation after the penalty.
Atlético used the extra player effectively, moving the ball quickly and forcing Real to defend in uncomfortable situations.
4. Rüdiger gave Real late hope
Real Madrid refused to give up.
Antonio Rüdiger scored with an 89th-minute header to reduce the deficit and give the visitors a chance of rescuing a point.
The goal created a tense finish, but Atlético managed the final minutes well enough to protect their lead.
5. Refereeing decisions became part of the story
The match was also surrounded by controversy.
José Mourinho criticised the officiating after the game, particularly incidents involving Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in. He argued that Real Madrid had been treated inconsistently in several key moments.
Atlético coach Diego Simeone responded by calling for respectful discussion and praised his team’s performance.
Why this result matters
This was more than just a derby win.
Atlético moved above Real Madrid in the standings and strengthened their position near the top of LaLiga.
The performance also showed that Atlético can compete with elite opponents in high-pressure matches.
For Real Madrid, the defeat raises questions about discipline, defensive control and how the team manages difficult moments.
What comes next?
Atlético will try to build on the momentum of the derby victory as the LaLiga title race develops.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, must respond quickly after a defeat that combined tactical problems, a red card and refereeing controversy.
The next few matches will show whether this derby was simply one difficult night or a warning sign for Mourinho’s team.
