Atletico Madrid edged 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a LaLiga derby clash on Sunday to leave Jose Mourinho's side trailing leaders Barcelona by six points.
Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half for Los Blancos before Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David's goals earned Diego Simeone's Atletico victory, with Antonio Rudiger pulling one back late on.
Atletico rose to second, five points behind Barca and one ahead of Real Madrid, who chalked up a second defeat of the campaign.
The game hinged on Huijsen's red card early in the second period for pulling down Giuliano Simeone in the box, which led to a penalty, tucked away by Grimaldo to set Atletico on their way.
Atléti leapfrog Real with a win in the Madrid Derby 🔴🔥#SSFootball | #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/acpBWJYu58
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 20, 2026
Real Madrid were unhappy about challenges from Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in in the first half, which Mourinho said should have been red cards.
"They were two clear red cards... the difficulty we had after (Huijsen's red) with 11 (players) against 10, well imagine 50 minutes with 11 against nine," Mourinho grumbled.
"There are no miracles in football," he continued. "11 against nine, well we can imagine how that would have finished."
Atletico midfielder Koke said the victory proved his side are capable of winning trophies.
"We can compete against every team if we give 100 per cent," explained Koke.
"(Real) Madrid are one of the best in the world and today we showed that."
Mourinho started with Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield over Bernardo Silva, opting for defensive clout over creativity.
There was more tension than footballing quality in the first half, with neither side capable of creating any clear chances.
The main talking point was an incident between Jude Bellingham and Atletico defender Romero.
The England international threw himself into a tackle and Romero trod on his leg, with Bellingham booked initially, but after a VAR review the referee removed the card and issued it to the Atletico man.
Madrid were also unhappy with a heavy tackle by Lee on Federico Valverde, which went unpunished just before halftime.
It was a scrappy battle, intense but lacking excitement comparative to the star power on the pitch, especially in Madrid's front line, with Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Bellingham kept quiet.
PIVOTAL MOMENT
The game burst into life early in the second half when Huijsen pulled back Giuliano Simeone's arm as the forward ran through on goal and Atletico were awarded a penalty.
Huijsen was dismissed after a VAR review and Grimaldo beat Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from the penalty spot.
• Red Card for Dean Huijsen 🟥
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 20, 2026
• Penalty to Atleti 🚨
The Madrid Derby has just taken a major turn 😲
📺 Stream #LaLiga on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/Ll8UNJD0CH
Mourinho reacted immediately by replacing the underwhelming Vinicius and Arda Guler and sending on club record signing Yan Diomande and Rudiger.
It was Atletico who struck next, though, with Canada international David tucking away Giuliano Simeone's raking low cross on 59 minutes for his third goal in three matches.
Atléti double up ⚽⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 20, 2026
Jonathan David is in the right place to tuck it away 👏🔴
📺 Stream #LaLiga on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/eT8I9niuq3
The hosts came close to getting a third but Courtois made an excellent save to deny Julian Alvarez and Ibrahima Konate reacted brilliantly to head Grimaldo's effort from the rebound off the line.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved from Diomande and Bellingham rowed with Giuliano Simeone as Madrid's frustrations showed, impotent to change the course of the game.
Madrid pulled a goal back in the final stages with Rudiger heading Bernardo Silva's cross past Oblak. However, it was too little too late for Mourinho's side.
"It wasn't a clean sheet, which is a shame, we had quite a good game but we left them a chance," said Oblak.
"It was important to win, but LaLiga is very long."