Derby Day Shock: Atletico Madrid Rout Real Madrid 5-2
In a dramatic Madrid derby that captured the city and the season’s early tension, Atletico Madrid thrashed Real Madrid 5-2 on Saturday night. The result, a stunning setback for Real under coach Xavi Alonso, marks the first time since February 1950 that Real conceded five goals in this fixture, and it comes just as both clubs were lining up ambitious starts to the 2025/26 campaign.
Real Madrid opened the season with a perfect seven victories from seven matches across all competitions—six in La Liga, one in the Champions League. But the first big test against a top rival exposed defensive vulnerabilities after a summer of reshuffling. The hosts struck inside 14 minutes when Robin Le Normand found himself unmarked in the box to meet a cross from Julián Simeone, the Atletico coach’s son, and bury the opener.
Real did not take long to respond. Kylian Mbappé converted his eighth league goal of the season (his 10th across all competitions) in the 25th minute, engineered by a precise assist from Arda Güler, who then struck soon after himself to put Real ahead. The lead, however, would be fleeting; in stoppage time of the first half, Atletico equalized through a header from captain Koke after a cross from Le Normand? No, after a high ball into the box, with Sorloth nodding in past Thibaut Courtois to make it 2-2 at the break.
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Second Half: Atletico’s Dominant Push
The second half told a different story as Atletico seized control. In the 50th minute, a high foot in the box from Arda Güler set the stage for a penalty, calmly converted by Julián Álvarez to restore Atletico’s lead. From there, Real Madrid had no meaningful reply as Atleti pressed relentlessly. Álvarez then doubled his tally in the 64th, curling a superb free kick past Courtois to make it 4-2.
Late in stoppage time, Antoine Griezmann, who had come on as a substitute, capped the night with a fourth goal (the fifth for Atletico overall) to seal a memorable derby victory for the hosts.
The result ends Real Madrid’s flawless start and hands Atletico a timely boost, their third win in four league games after a rocky opening stretch to the campaign. The visitors return to the top of the table? Not quite—Real are set to drop from first place on Sunday, unless Barcelona fail to beat Real Sociedad at home.
What it means going forward: For Atletico, this win provides a much-needed spike in confidence and a demonstration that their squad depth and tactical plan can overcome one of Europe’s hottest teams. For Real Madrid, the defeat is a sobering reminder that, even in a season that promised control from the outset, the defense and balance in midfield will need to tighten quickly if they want to challenge for major trophies again. The Parisian-blue noise of the derby atmosphere underscored that even on an early-season high, every fixture has its own gravity in La Liga’s fiercest rivalry.
Key Moments That Defined the Night
- 14th minute: Le Normand ends up free inside the box to meet a cross and score the opener.
- 25th minute: Mbappé nets his eighth league goal of the season, finishing from Arda Güler’s setup.
- First-half equalizer: Sorloth nods home from a corner to level the scores before the break.
- 50th minute: Güler’s high boot creates a penalty, converted by Álvarez.
- 64th minute: Álvarez adds a second with a precise free kick into the net.
- stoppage time: Griezmann seals the win with Atletico’s fifth goal.
Around the League
With this result, Atletico move forward with momentum, while Real Madrid face an immediate test to rebound in their next outing. The rest of La Liga will be watching to see if Barca can close the gap and challenge the early-season status quo as the calendar moves deeper into the autumn schedule.
