Atletico Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over a 10-man Real Madrid in a tense La Liga derby clash on Sunday in Madrid, marking Real’s second defeat of the season and leaving them trailing league leaders Barcelona by six points. The match was defined by a red card shown to Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen early in the second half, which shifted momentum in Atletico’s favor.

Huijsen was dismissed after pulling back Atletico forward Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty successfully converted by Alejandro Grimaldo. Shortly after, Jonathan David extended Atletico’s lead with his third goal in three matches, finishing a low cross from Giuliano Simeone. Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger managed to score a late consolation goal, but it was not enough to prevent the loss.

The outcome moved Atletico into second place in the league standings, five points behind Barcelona and one point clear of Real Madrid, who now sit fourth. Meanwhile, Real Betis climbed to third despite drawing 1-1 with Deportivo La Coruna, and Villarreal overcame Levante 3-1.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho expressed frustration with the officiating, highlighting two earlier challenges involving Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in that he believed should have resulted in red cards. “They were two clear red cards,” Mourinho said, adding that playing nearly 50 minutes with 11 against nine was a significant disadvantage. He also pointed to the difficulty of competing after Huijsen’s sending off.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone, however, responded by emphasizing respect towards referees and opponents, cautioning against crossing the line of professionalism regardless of the person involved. “Even if your name is Mourinho, or Simeone, it doesn’t fly — you can’t cross that line,” Simeone remarked after the match.

The first half was marked by intense but scrappy play, with few clear chances and some physical confrontations. Notably, Jude Bellingham’s aggressive tackle on Cristian Romero and a heavy challenge by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde drew attention, though only a booking was issued after VAR review in the former case.

Mourinho made tactical adjustments after the red card, substituting Vinicius Junior and Arda Guler for Yan Diomande and Rudiger in an effort to add offensive impetus. Despite these changes, Atletico maintained control, with midfielder Koke noting the victory demonstrated their ability to challenge top teams. “We can compete against every team if we give 100 percent,” he said.

The match underscored the competitive nature of the current La Liga campaign, with intensifying battles among the top sides as the season progresses.