Schröder scores twice then sees red as Real Madrid survive Atlético fightback in Liga F derby

Real Madrid opened their 2026/27 Liga F campaign with a 3-2 derby victory over Atlético Madrid at the Alfredo Di Stéfano on Sunday, surviving a frantic second half that featured two red cards and a string of late saves from goalkeeper Merle Frohms.

Schröder was the central figure in a breathless first half. She opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Keukelaar’s dribble past Lucía set up a tap-in, and Toletti doubled the advantage shortly afterwards with an Olympic goal direct from a corner. Jensen pulled one back for Atlético in the 33rd minute, but Schröder restored the two-goal cushion with her second in the 43rd. Jensen struck again in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-2 at the break — five goals in 45 minutes.

The Swedish forward’s afternoon unravelled nine minutes into the second half. After a VAR review, the referee issued Schröder a straight red card for a kick on Rosa Otermín, leaving Real Madrid to defend their lead with ten players for the remainder of the contest.

Atlético pressed hard with the numerical advantage, but the game was levelled in terms of personnel in the 67th minute when Gio was also dismissed following a review for a similar challenge. The sending-off eased the pressure on Quesada’s side considerably, and Frohms did the rest — producing a diving save in the first minute of stoppage time and claiming a late effort in the sixth added minute to seal the three points.

Real Madrid next host Ajax on Wednesday in the return leg of their Champions League qualifying round. Atlético return to league action the following Sunday when they host Alavés, looking to avoid back-to-back defeats to open their season.