Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid 5-2: La Liga – as it happened
The Metropolitan Stadium pulsed with tension, anticipation, and rivalry on a crisp evening in Madrid as Atlético Madridhosted Real Madrid in what would turn into one of the most electrifying derbies of the season. The final whistle would reveal a stunning 5-2 victory for the hosts — a result that few saw coming. (Al Jazeera)
First Half: Atlético Strike Early, Real Responds
The match got off to a fast start. Atlético seized the initiative in the 14th minute when Robin Le Normand rose highest from a cross to head home and open the scoring. (ESPN.com) The hosts looked energized, pressing Real’s defense and trying to compound their early confidence.
But Real Madrid were not content to sit back. Around the 25th minute, Kylian Mbappé broke through with a sharp finish, capitalizing on space created by Arda Güler’s clever pass. That leveled things up and shifted the mood. (ESPN.com) Eleven minutes later, Arda Güler struck again. After a Real turnover in Atlético’s half, Vinícius Jr. found Güler with a cross and the Turkish-born attacker volleyed it home, putting Real Madrid ahead heading into the last stretch before half time. (SI)
Just as it seemed Atlético might go into the break trailing, Alexander Sørloth delivered a crucial leveller in stoppage time. He powered a header from a Koke delivery to make it 2-2 just before the whistle. (SI) That late equalizer shifted momentum and gave Atlético a renewed belief.
Second Half: Atlético Take Control
The second half opened with Atlético knocking on the door immediately. In the 51st minute, a key moment arrived: Álvarez stepped up to take a penalty, awarded after Güler’s high boot clipped Nico González. The Argentine coolly converted, putting Atlético ahead 3-2. (ESPN.com)
Just over ten minutes later, Álvarez struck again — this time from a free kick, bending the ball over the wall and past Thibaut Courtois into the top corner. It was a masterpiece of technique, and Atlético now stretched their lead to 4-2. (ESPN.com)
From there, Real Madrid sought a response, pressing forward in search of a way back into the game. But Atlético, buoyed by momentum and the crowd, held firm. In stoppage time, Antoine Griezmann added the finishing touch, completing the rout with a clever counter-attack goal to make it 5-2. (SI)
Key Performers & Tactical View
Julián Álvarez was the standout. Scoring both a penalty and a free kick, he became only the second Atlético player in modern times to do so in the same match. (Into the Calderon)
In defence, Real Madrid were repeatedly punished by crosses and set pieces — two of Atlético’s goals (Le Normand’s and Sørloth’s) came from aerial deliveries. (Managing Madrid)
Real’s performance was marred by lapses in marking, sporadic intensity, and poor defensive cohesion, especially on high balls. (Managing Madrid)
Meanwhile, Atlético showed resolve under pressure, exploited weaknesses, and executed decisive attacking transitions, especially in the second half.
Aftermath & Significance
The result dealt Real Madrid their first loss of the La Liga season, ending their perfect start. (ESPN.com) For Atlético, it was more than just a derby win — it was a statement. They scored five goals against their city rivals for the first time in 75 years. (Reuters)
Xabi Alonso, the Real Madrid manager, described the defeat as “bad but deserved,” and emphasized learning from defensive mistakes and underperformance in duels and intensity. (Reuters) He asked fans for patience, seeing it as part of a developmental phase for his side. (Reuters)
Diego Simeone’s Atlético, on the other hand, earned a huge morale boost. For a team under scrutiny in the early season, this performance reasserted their capacity to challenge at the top and deliver in big moments. (Reuters)
From a standings perspective, Real Madrid remained top, but this result sends a message to challengers. Atlético climbed in the table and will head into upcoming fixtures brimming with confidence.