10-man Real Madrid collapse as Atlético snatch derby with David's decisive strike

Atlético Madrid defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in a heated La Liga derby, with Dean Huijsen’s second-half dismissal proving the decisive moment as Jonathan David’s close-range finish sealed victory for Diego Simeone’s side.

Huijsen red card opens the door for Atlético

The match turned shortly after half-time when a long ball from David Hancko sent Giuliano Simeone racing into the penalty area, where Huijsen dragged him down. Referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz pointed to the spot and, following a VAR review to reassess the card colour, sent Huijsen off. Álex Grimaldo converted the penalty to put Atlético in front.

David doubled the lead moments later, turning in Simeone’s low cross from six yards after Lee Kang-in had worked the ball to the Argentinian on the right. The two-goal cushion left Real Madrid with a mountain to climb with ten men.

Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back late on with a header from a set piece, sparking a brief rally that Atlético held off. Thibaut Courtois produced a fine save to deny Cristian Romero, while Ibrahima Konaté cleared off the line from Julián Álvarez as Real searched for a leveller that never came. Kylian Mbappé was largely peripheral, and Mourinho’s double substitution failed to alter the pattern of the game.

Mourinho’s derby return ends in defeat

It was José Mourinho’s first Madrid derby since returning to the Real Madrid dugout, and it ended in defeat. It was 13 years since Mourinho and Simeone had last faced each other in this fixture — the night Atlético won the Copa del Rey at the Santiago Bernabéu — and this one carried a similarly combustible atmosphere. Jude Bellingham had a card reversed following a VAR review, and both Atlético’s goalkeeper coach and Real’s assistant were sent off at half-time.

Managers divided on the key moments

Simeone celebrated wildly at the final whistle and described derby week in Madrid as carrying a special energy. Mourinho arrived at his post-match press conference armed with footage of two incidents he believed should have produced red cards against Atlético, involving Lee Kang-in and Cristian Romero, arguing those moments were central to the outcome rather than his own team’s performance.

Questions also linger over how passive Real became once reduced to ten men, and over the decision-making that led to Huijsen’s dismissal in the first place. Atlético move forward with momentum, while Real Madrid must regroup as the La Liga title picture continues to develop.