Atletico Madrid edge 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in La Liga derby, move second

Atletico Madrid defeated 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a La Liga derby at Metropolitano stadium on September 20, 2026. Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half for pulling down Giuliano Simeone, leading to a penalty that Alejandro Grimaldo converted. Jonathan David added a second goal for Atletico, while Antonio Rudiger scored a late consolation for Real Madrid. The win lifts Atletico to second place, five points behind leaders Barcelona and one point ahead of Real Madrid, who now trail Barcelona by six points after their second defeat of the campaign. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho complained that challenges by Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in in the first half should have resulted in red cards, leaving his side frustrated. Atletico midfielder Koke said the victory proved his team can compete with any side when they give 100 percent. The match was described as scrappy and tense, with few clear chances despite the star power on the pitch, including Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. For Nigerian fans following La Liga, the result tightens the title race and highlights Real Madrid’s defensive vulnerabilities, while boosting Atletico’s hopes of challenging for the league crown. With the league still long, both teams will look to build on this result in their upcoming fixtures.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/20/atletico-beat-real-madrid-in-tense-derby-clash/