Grimaldo penalty sinks 10-man Real Madrid as Atletico win 2-1

Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a feisty La Liga derby on Sunday, a result that leaves Jose Mourinho's side trailing leaders Barcelona by six points.

Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half for Los Blancos before Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David scored to give Diego Simeone's Atletico the victory, with Antonio Rudiger pulling one back late on.

Huijsen's dismissal proves decisive

The match hinged on that red card. Huijsen pulled down Giuliano Simeone in the box as the forward ran through on goal, and Atletico were awarded a penalty.

Following a VAR review, Huijsen was dismissed and Grimaldo beat Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from the spot to set the hosts on their way.

Mourinho reacted immediately, replacing an underwhelming Vinicius Junior and Arda Guler with club record signing Yan Diomande and Rudiger.

Jonathan David doubles the lead

It was Atletico who struck next, with Canada international David tucking away Simeone's raking low cross on 59 minutes for his third goal in three matches.

The hosts came close to a third, but Courtois made an excellent save to deny Julian Alvarez, and Ibrahima Konate reacted brilliantly to head Grimaldo's effort from the rebound off the line.

At the other end, Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved from Diomande, and Bellingham rowed with Simeone as Madrid's frustrations showed, the visitors impotent to change the course of the game.

Madrid did pull a goal back in the final stages, Rudiger heading Bernardo Silva's cross past Oblak, but it was too little too late for Mourinho's side, who have now suffered a second defeat of the campaign.

Atletico rose to second, five points behind Barcelona and one ahead of Real Madrid.

Tension and VAR drama in the first half

Mourinho had started with Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield ahead of Bernardo Silva, opting for defensive clout over creativity.

There was more tension than footballing quality before the interval, with neither side capable of creating any clear chances.

The main talking point was an incident between Jude Bellingham and Atletico defender Cristian Romero. The England international threw himself into a tackle and Romero trod on his leg, with Bellingham booked initially. After a VAR review, however, the referee removed the card and issued it to the Atletico man.

Madrid were also unhappy with a heavy tackle by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde that went unpunished just before half-time.

It was a scrappy battle, intense but lacking excitement given the star power on the pitch, particularly in Madrid's front line, where Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Bellingham were kept quiet.

SportsLigue