Big Upset in Spain for the Madrid Derby
Atlético Madrid delivered a statement performance at the Metropolitano on Saturday. They stunned city rivals Real Madrid with a 5-2 victory that ended Xabi Alonso’s perfect start to the La Liga season. It was a derby full of drama, momentum swings, and individual brilliance, but above all, it was a humbling experience for a Real side that had appeared untouchable in recent weeks. This was a shock for Los Blancos, but it may have been a wake-up call for them to fix some of their mistakes against teams that may play like their crosstown rivals.
The tone was set early when Robin Le Normand rose above the defense to head Atlético into the lead after just 14 minutes. Real responded in kind, with Kylian Mbappé firing home a sharp equalizer and Arda Güler then giving Los Blancos the advantage with a crisp volley that silenced the home crowd. For a moment, it looked as though Real’s superiority would once again carry them through. Instead, Atlético found resilience and belief.
Just before halftime, Alexander Sørloth powered in a header to level the score at two apiece. That moment shifted the momentum, and the second half became a showcase of Diego Simeone’s side at their relentless best. The turning point came when Güler, previously the hero, conceded a penalty with a high boot that struck Nicolás González. For this penalty, Julián Álvarez stepped up to the spot and converted with composure and confidence, restoring Atlético’s lead. The Argentine forward wasn’t finished. Minutes later, he delivered the highlight of the night, curling a superb free kick into the top corner that left Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois rooted.
As Real pushed forward desperately in search of a lifeline, spaces opened at the back. In stoppage time, Antoine Griezmann exploited one such gap, racing clear on the counterattack to slot home Atlético’s fifth. The Metropolitano erupted, the stands shaking as fans reveled in a rare and emphatic derby triumph. For Real Madrid, the loss represents their first dropped points of the campaign. Alonso admitted afterwards that his team “were bad at everything,” lamenting their inability to control possession or win duels. He framed the defeat as a painful but necessary lesson in the long grind of a title race. However, some fans might point to referee decisions as a scapegoat because of the past controversies this season with La Liga’s refereeing. Other fans might question some of Xabi Alonso’s decisions on his starting 11 and substitute decisions.
Atlético, meanwhile, will see this as validation. After an uneven start to the season, they proved they can not only compete but also dominate against Spain’s most in-form side. In the wider La Liga picture, this derby was more than just local bragging rights; it was a reminder that Simeone’s men remain genuine contenders and are not a team to be slept on despite not being able to put their best foot forward in the last year or two.
