Madrid Derby Review: A Red Card Exposes Real Madrid’s Unfinished Work

Real Madrid went into the international break six points behind Barcelona after a 2–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid. It was Madrid’s second loss of the season, while Atlético climbed into second place and strengthened its position in the early title race.

The match turned just after half-time. Dean Huijsen was sent off after bringing down Giuliano Simeone in the box, and Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty. From that moment, Atlético had the numerical advantage, the momentum and a clearer route to goal.

José Mourinho reacted immediately, replacing Vinícius Júnior and Arda Güler with Yan Diomande and Antonio Rüdiger. The changes helped Madrid protect its back line, but they did not solve the larger problem: the team could not regain control of midfield.

The Huijsen Decision Changed Everything

The first half was cautious, with neither goalkeeper seriously tested. The decisive moment arrived when Atlético centre-back David Hancko was given time to play a long pass behind Madrid’s defence.

Simeone got across Huijsen, who tried to stop the run with his arms. The forward went down inside the box and the referee initially awarded a penalty and showed Huijsen a yellow card. After a VAR review, the decision was upgraded to a red card.

Grimaldo calmly rolled the penalty into the corner. The goal was more than an advantage on the scoreboard: it forced Madrid to reorganise its entire game plan with ten players.

Huijsen is one of Madrid’s most confident defenders in possession, but this sequence highlighted a different side of his game. When the defensive line is exposed, he still needs to improve his positioning, timing and decision-making under pressure.

Mourinho’s response was logical. Rüdiger moved into the defensive line, while Diomande offered pace for counterattacks. Madrid, however, remained unable to build sustained pressure.

Atlético took advantage in the 59th minute. Alex Baena found Jonathan David unmarked near the six-yard box, and the forward finished from close range to make it 2–0.

Julián Álvarez later came close to adding a third, only for Rüdiger to clear his shot off the line. Rüdiger then headed Madrid back into the game in the 89th minute, but Atlético held on through six minutes of added time.

Should Romero Have Been Sent Off?

The most disputed first-half incident involved Jude Bellingham and Cristian Romero. Both players challenged for a loose ball, but Romero’s studs made heavy contact with Bellingham’s shin.

The referee first penalised Bellingham and showed him a yellow card. After a VAR check, that decision was reversed: Bellingham’s card was withdrawn and Romero was booked instead.

The correction was important, but it left a broader question: did Romero’s challenge meet the threshold for a red card? There was another controversial moment shortly before half-time when Lee Kang-in caught Federico Valverde’s standing foot with a high, studs-up challenge.

Mourinho brought printed images of both incidents to his post-match press conference. His argument was simple: two potential red-card decisions may have shaped the match before Huijsen’s dismissal.

“The story of the game is in these two challenges,” Mourinho argued after the match.

What Does the Defeat Mean for Mourinho?

This was a serious warning for Mourinho, who has inherited a Madrid side still searching for a reliable identity. The scoreline was not as damaging as last season’s heavy defeat at the same stadium, but the pattern was familiar: Atlético were more compact, more direct and more coordinated without the ball.

Madrid’s front six contained plenty of individual quality, but the team lacked control between the lines. Valverde, Tchouaméni, Güler, Bellingham, Vinícius and Mbappé can decide matches through individual actions; they still need a more stable collective structure.

The defence also requires better protection. Atlético repeatedly targeted the space behind Madrid’s back line, while Madrid struggled to react quickly after losing possession. The next step is not simply adding another defender—it is improving the distances between the midfield and the back four.

Barcelona Benefits as the Title Race Tightens

Atlético’s victory lifted them above Madrid, while Barcelona became the other major winner of the weekend. Barcelona have opened the season with seven wins, 31 goals scored and seven conceded, giving them a five-point lead over Atlético and a six-point lead over Madrid.

The international break gives Mourinho time to make adjustments, but the margin for error is already narrowing. Madrid must improve its defensive transitions, midfield control and response to pressure before the first Clásico of the season.

Otherwise, the title race could begin to move away from them before the season has properly settled.