It was a stunning victory for Atlético Madrid as they defeated their arch-rivals Real Madrid with a comprehensive 3-1 scoreline at the Metropolitano Stadium. The former Real Madrid striker, Álvaro Morata, got the ball rolling for Atlético early on, followed by a goal from Antoine Griezmann. Just when Madrid seemed to have a glimmer of hope with a goal from Toni Kroos, Morata struck again seconds into the second half to restore Atlético's two-goal advantage.
This defeat brought an end to Madrid's perfect start to the La Liga season and knocked them off the top of the table. It was a disappointment for their new star player, Jude Bellingham, who experienced his first defeat since joining the Spanish capital club in the summer.
Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, took responsibility for the team's performance and acknowledged that he could have done better. He admitted that when the team doesn't perform well, it ultimately falls on the manager's shoulders. However, he remained confident and stated that it was not a problem for him.
Atlético Madrid started the game strongly, with their left wing-back, Samuel Lino, providing a pinpoint cross for Morata to score the opening goal in just the fourth minute. They found success exploiting the weakened left flank of Real Madrid's defense, which had Dani Carvajal sidelined with an injury. Griezmann doubled Atlético's lead with a well-placed header from a cross by Saúl Ñíguez.
Real Madrid, with their midfield quartet, dominated possession, while Atlético made the most of their opportunities. Kroos gave Madrid a lifeline with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that beat Atlético's goalkeeper, Jan Oblak. Both goalkeepers made crucial saves in the first half, with Kepa denying Ñíguez and Oblak stopping another long-range effort from Kroos.
Madrid thought they had equalized just before halftime when Eduardo Camavinga tapped in a rebound from David Alaba's shot. However, the goal was disallowed as Antonio Rüdiger was judged to have interfered while offside. This decision caused frustration amongst the Real Madrid players and staff. There was further controversy as Madrid claimed a red card when Rodrygo was cynically tackled by José María Giménez, but the referee dismissed their appeals.
The second half started even worse for Real Madrid as Atlético struck again within 32 seconds. Ñíguez provided another perfect cross for Morata to complete his brace with a clinical header. The aerial threat of Atlético proved to be Madrid's downfall.
Diego Simeone's side secured a memorable victory, only their second in a league derby against Real Madrid since the 2015/2016 season. Ancelotti expressed his disappointment in the team's defensive performance, acknowledging that the problems lied mainly in their inability to defend well and stay compact.
With this defeat, Real Madrid now sits in third place in La Liga, trailing behind Girona and league leaders Barcelona. On the other hand, Atlético Madrid's victory propelled them to fifth place in the league standings.