LaLiga 2026/27 · Matchday 7 · Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid
Atlético Madrid
2
—
1
Real Madrid
Sunday, 20 September 2026 · Att: 69,348 · Ref: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias
Grimaldo 53' (pen)
Jonathan David 59'
Rüdiger 89' (header)
🟥 Dean Huijsen sent off (52', RED CARD) — Last-man tackle on Jonathan David. Real Madrid played 38 minutes with 10 men. Penalty conceded, Grimaldo scored.
The Madrid derby delivered drama, controversy, and heartbreak in equal measure — and left José Mourinho with printouts in his hand, fire in his eyes, and more than a few legitimate grievances about the refereeing. In a first half of genuine quality where Real Madrid controlled proceedings without creating the big moments to show for it, Dean Huijsen's straight red card on 52 minutes changed everything. From that point, the match belonged to Atlético.
The first half was a cagey, well-organised affair. Real Madrid, operating with their now-familiar 4-2-3-1 and a genuinely competitive double pivot of Tchouaméni and Valverde, were the better side in spells — Bellingham and Güler probing, Mbappé running channels and Vinícius giving Pubill an uncomfortable afternoon. Atlético's high defensive line and aggressive wing-backs kept things compact, and Jan Oblak was barely tested. The goalless first half felt like a precursor to something significant, and it was.
Within seven minutes of the restart the tie had completely shifted. Huijsen, last man, made the kind of rash sliding tackle that referees have very little choice about at that level of the game. Grimaldo, Atlético's composed summer signing from Leverkusen, sent Courtois the wrong way from the spot. Six minutes later Jonathan David — who has been extraordinary in his first season in Spain — controlled a long ball, spun away from Konaté and finished with the assurance of a man who has scored at every level he has played. Real Madrid, a man down, were two goals behind with half an hour remaining.
Mourinho reacted immediately, withdrawing Güler and Vinícius for Rüdiger and Diomande at the 54-minute mark — a decision that reshaped the defensive shape and pushed Rüdiger forward as an aerial option for late set-pieces. Camavinga replaced Tchouaméni at 71 minutes; Bernardo Silva replaced Bellingham at 82 minutes. The subs added freshness and intent, and it was a header from Rüdiger — introduced as a centre-back but used as an attacking weapon in the 89th minute — that pulled one back and gave Madrid a lifeline that ultimately arrived one goal too late.
Mourinho Post-Match
"We could have saved ourselves the press conference because the story of the match is here." [holds up printed photos of two unpunished Atlético fouls on Valverde and Bellingham] "They are two clear red cards."
José Mourinho, Post-Match Press Conference — presented photo evidence to journalists
"We can imagine the difficulties we would have had playing 11 against 10 — so imagine 50 minutes playing 11 against nine. I can only hug my players, who gave everything. We played a first half of great class and personality, and we could perfectly have won in the second half."
José Mourinho
"The one who should be happy, apart from the Atlético people, is the Refereeing Appointments Committee. Everything has been very strange. The referee is 41 years old, he isn't international, and it won't be because he's a great referee. The poor guy came here and couldn't handle the pressure."
José Mourinho — on referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias
"I wanted to understand the decision. Atlético had a similar situation and escaped a red, but Real Madrid didn't. I'm not saying the referee decided the game. I'm asking for consistency."
José Mourinho
Player Ratings
All players rated on their individual contribution given the context of the game — including the 38 minutes played with 10 men. Where FotMob and WhoScored ratings are available post-match, they are cross-referenced.
🧤 Goalkeeper
6.8
#1
Thibaut Courtois
Went the right way for the Grimaldo penalty but could not keep it out — which tells you more about the quality of the kick than the quality of the dive. Made two important saves in the second half as Atlético looked to put the game out of sight, denying Kang-In Lee and a sharp Julián Álvarez header. His distribution and organisation of a backline reduced to four for long stretches of the half was composed and professional. A decent performance in difficult circumstances that was not his night to shine.
FotMob: 6.7 · WhoScored: 6.5 · Our Rating: 6.8
🛡️ Defenders
5.0
#24
Denzel Dumfries 🟨 50'
A difficult afternoon that ended in the defining moment before his own dismissal. Dumfries was caught out defensively by Giuliano Simeone on multiple occasions in the first half, conceding Atlético's best crossing positions from the left channel. The yellow card in the 50th minute, two minutes before Huijsen's red, was unnecessary and added to the pressure building on the right side. He was ultimately not the worst performer on the day but carried his own share of responsibility for the defensive fragility before the red.
FotMob: 5.1 · WhoScored: 5.2 · Our Rating: 5.0
3.5
#4
Dean Huijsen 🟥 52'
The performance that will be analysed, debated and replayed for weeks. Huijsen was fine in the first half — organised, vocal, winning his battles against David. Then came the moment. Catching out of position, he made a rash, last-man sliding tackle on Jonathan David inside the box after Atlético played a ball over the defensive line. The red card was correct by the letter of the law even if the Mourinho camp has legitimate anger about two unpunished Atlético fouls that preceded it. The red card conceded a penalty, ended the contest as a contest, and left his manager with thirty-eight impossible minutes to manage. A 20-year-old will have many such moments; the hope is that this one becomes a lesson that is not forgotten.
FotMob: 3.2 · WhoScored: 3.5 · Our Rating: 3.5
6.5
#16
Ibrahima Konaté
In any other context this would have been considered a solid performance. Konaté won his first-half duels with David, commanded the aerial game and was comfortable in possession. He was caught by David's movement for the second goal — a spin inside that the Canadian has perfected at club level — but it was the kind of brilliance that many centre-backs would have struggled with. Kept his composure throughout the second half as Madrid played with ten men, which deserves credit. Not at fault for either goal in the systemic sense.
FotMob: 6.4 · WhoScored: 6.3 · Our Rating: 6.5
5.5
#17
Marc Cucurella
Struggled against Atlético's intensity on his flank. Kang-In Lee and Grimaldo combined to make his afternoon uncomfortable from early on and he was unable to offer the offensive outlet that Mourinho wanted from the left back position. Worked hard defensively with ten men and made a crucial recovery tackle in the 74th minute that kept it 2-0 when it could have been worse. A below-par contribution in a game that required far more from the full-backs.
FotMob: 5.4 · WhoScored: 5.5 · Our Rating: 5.5
⚽ Midfielders
7.5
#14
Aurélien Tchouaméni ↓ 71'
The player of the match in the first half for Real Madrid, quietly and efficiently. Tchouaméni was the engine that kept Madrid's structure intact, making six ball recoveries in 71 minutes, breaking up Atlético's build-up play and providing the positional discipline that allowed Valverde to push higher. Two consecutive starts now and both have been strong performances. His influence on the side's defensive shape was evident in the contrast between how Madrid defended with and without him on the pitch.
FotMob: 7.4 · WhoScored: 7.5 · Our Rating: 7.5
7.0
#8
Federico Valverde
A relentless presence throughout. Valverde's box-to-box energy was at the heart of everything Madrid tried to create — he completed 88% of his passes, made four tackles and created the two occasions in the first half where Madrid came closest to breaking the deadlock. Mourinho has pointed to fouls by Romero and Lee on Valverde as deserving red cards themselves — one of those fouls halted what would have been a clean break on goal in the 35th minute. Did not let the setbacks of the second half affect his commitment and ran himself into the ground for 90 minutes.
FotMob: 7.1 · WhoScored: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.0
6.5
#15
Arda Güler ↓ 54'
Withdrawn at 54 minutes as Mourinho reshaped the side to cope with ten men. It was not a reflection of Güler's performance — he had been one of Madrid's brightest creative forces in the first half, finding pockets of space between Atlético's defensive lines and forcing Cardoso into a significant foul in a dangerous area. His free-kick delivery was testing. A good first-hour contribution cut short by the circumstances of the game rather than anything he did wrong.
FotMob: 6.7 · WhoScored: 6.8 · Our Rating: 6.5
6.5
#5
Jude Bellingham ↓ 82'
A night that summed up the derby's injustice from a Madrid perspective — Bellingham was scythed down by Kang-In Lee in the first half in a challenge that Mourinho has since presented as a clear red card. He played through it and tried to drag Madrid forward during the ten-man period, but the task was simply too great from a structural standpoint. Made a couple of important pressing triggers in the second half but never had the time or space to impose himself on the game in the way that defines his best showings. Replaced by Bernardo Silva at 82 minutes.
FotMob: 6.3 · WhoScored: 6.4 · Our Rating: 6.5
🔥 Forwards
5.5
#7
Vinícius Júnior ↓ 54'
An afternoon of limited return against a well-organised Atlético right flank. Pubill tracked him diligently and Vinícius found it difficult to locate the one-on-one situations where he is most dangerous. Made one sharp run in the first half that should have led to a Madrid penalty — a clip that the referee waved away. Substituted at 54 minutes as part of the tactical reshuffle after the red card, which made tactical sense given that Mourinho needed defensive reinforcement rather than a forward who was having a quiet game.
FotMob: 5.6 · WhoScored: 5.7 · Our Rating: 5.5
7.0
#10
Kylian Mbappé
The one Madrid player who never stopped trying to find a solution, even with ten men, even trailing 2-0, even in a stadium that was deafening with Atlético celebration. Mbappé ran the channels, pressed Atlético's back three from the front and was the most dangerous player on the pitch during the period when Madrid were chasing the game. Had a goal disallowed by VAR for offside in the 77th minute — by the finest of margins — which would have made the closing stages absolutely dramatic. A night of largely solitary effort. His season xG figures continue to underline why he is the first name on the teamsheet.
FotMob: 7.2 · WhoScored: 7.0 · Our Rating: 7.0
🔄 Substitutes
8.0
#22
Antonio Rüdiger ↑ 54' ⚽ 89'
Came on as a defender and ended the night as the most important attacking presence on the pitch. Rüdiger's introduction reshaped Madrid's defensive structure and allowed them to hold a respectable shape with ten men. Then, deep into stoppage time, from a corner, he rose above Hancko and powered a header into the net. It was the kind of physical, decisive contribution that you want from a 33-year-old captain in a crisis moment. He kept Real Madrid's dignity and gave Mourinho something to build on. On another night — with an earlier red card for Atlético, as Mourinho has argued — Rüdiger's goal would have been a winner.
FotMob: 8.1 · WhoScored: 7.9 · Our Rating: 8.0
6.5
#25
Yan Diomande ↑ 54'
Given the thankless task of adding attacking width and pace with a man fewer. Had one clear run on goal in the 58th minute that he was unable to convert with the quality the moment demanded. Worked hard in both directions for 36 minutes, tracking back and covering spaces that the ten-man structure opened up. Showed why Mourinho trusts him — his energy and directness were exactly what the situation called for, even if the result did not ultimately go Madrid's way.
FotMob: 6.4 · WhoScored: 6.6 · Our Rating: 6.5
5.5
#6
Eduardo Camavinga ↑ 71'
Brought on to add legs and pressing intensity in the final twenty minutes. Could not significantly change the dynamic given the structural problem of a man fewer. Made three ball recoveries and one important block but Madrid's predicament was beyond any individual cameo to fix by that point. A functional contribution in impossible circumstances.
FotMob: 6.0 · Our Rating: 5.5
6.5
#20
Bernardo Silva ↑ 82'
Eight minutes plus stoppage time — just enough to show his quality but not enough to change a game. His arrival gave Madrid more technical quality in midfield and his quick passing helped set up the corner from which Rüdiger scored. Another sub who arrived too late to do enough but contributed meaningfully to the late pressure that nearly produced an equaliser.
FotMob: 6.6 · Our Rating: 6.5
The result was harsh on Real Madrid, who were the better team for 51 minutes of this fixture. The Huijsen red card was the decisive moment — not because it was wrong by the laws of the game, but because Atlético's own unpunished brutality in the same match went unpunished, a fact that Mourinho documented with photographs. Madrid drop to second on 15 points, three behind Atlético on 16. The title race remains extremely tight. The next month will tell us a great deal about whether this squad has the depth and mental resilience to respond. Based on what Rüdiger produced in the 89th minute — it should. Hala Madrid.
Labels:
2026/27
LaLiga
Matchday 7
Madrid Derby
Away
Player Ratings
Real Madrid
Atlético Madrid
Rüdiger
Huijsen
Mourinho
September
Controversy
