Atlético beat 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 to leapfrog their city rivals

Atlético Madrid beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday, a Madrid derby settled in the six minutes after Dean Huijsen was sent off for hauling down Giuliano Simeone in the box. Alejandro Grimaldo scored the resulting penalty on 53 minutes, Jonathan David added a second on 59, and Antonio Rüdiger's 89th-minute reply came too late for a Real Madrid side that finished the afternoon with ten men and a second defeat of the season.

Six minutes that decided it

1. 52' — Dean Huijsen brings down Giuliano Simeone inside the area and is sent off
2. 53' — Alejandro Grimaldo sends the penalty low to the goalkeeper's right, 1-0
3. 59' — Simeone's low cross is turned in by Jonathan David from close range, 2-0
4. 89' — Antonio Rüdiger heads in to make it 2-1, too late to change the outcome

By the time Rüdiger finally beat Jan Oblak in the 89th minute, Atlético had already turned the numerical advantage into a two-goal cushion. Giuliano Simeone, Marc Pubill and Cristian Romero were all booked for Atlético either side of half-time, and Denzel Dumfries and Jude Bellingham picked up yellow cards for Real Madrid — evidence of a derby that was feisty well before Huijsen's dismissal turned it decisively.

Grimaldo's second penalty in three matches, David's third goal in three

It was Grimaldo's second penalty conversion in three matches, after the one that sealed the 3-0 win at Real Sociedad on matchday 5. David's finish mattered more for the pattern it confirmed: the Canadian forward has now scored in three straight LaLiga appearances, having struck late to settle the win at Real Sociedad on matchday 5 and opened the scoring in the 4-0 rout of Osasuna on matchday 6. Across those two matches plus Sunday's derby, Atlético have scored nine goals and conceded just one — a complete reversal from the matchday before that run started, a 3-0 defeat away to Athletic Club.

"What I understand from our position is that respect for referees, even if we benefited from some decisions today, must be maintained, because if we don't, everything becomes permissible. Not everything is permissible, even if your name is Mourinho."

— Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid manager

Simeone's post-match dig came in response to Mourinho, who held up printed images at his own press conference and argued Real Madrid should also have had a man sent off. The two managers have a long history of needling each other before Madrid derbies, and Sunday's result gave Simeone the last word.

Second in the table, one point above the side they just beat

The win takes Atlético Madrid above their rivals for the first time this season: they sit second on 16 points from seven matches, five behind leaders Barcelona but one clear of Real Madrid, who drop to fourth on 15 points after a second league defeat under Mourinho's second spell in charge — the first came away to Real Betis on matchday 4. Both Madrid clubs remain inside the top five and on course for the Champions League places, but the psychological ground has shifted: Atlético have won three of their last four matches, while Real Madrid have lost two of their last four.

Recent form

Line-ups

Atlético Madrid lined up in a 4-4-2: Jan Oblak in goal, Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero and Dávid Hancko across the back, Giuliano Simeone, Johnny Cardoso, Álex Baena and Alejandro Grimaldo in midfield, and Lee Kang-In alongside Jonathan David up front — with Julián Álvarez, still short of full fitness, left among the substitutes. Real Madrid set up in a 4-2-3-1: Thibaut Courtois, Denzel Dumfries, Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konaté and Marc Cucurella in defence, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde screening, Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior behind Kylian Mbappé, who was starved of service once his side went down to ten men.

What's next

Atlético Madrid will look to build on the derby win in their next LaLiga fixture, while Real Madrid have a short turnaround to respond before Champions League duties resume. Both sides remain firmly inside the European qualification picture, but the gap between them at the top of the Madrid pecking order — for now — has swung Simeone's way.