Atlético beats Real 2-1 and climbs to second after Huijsen’s red card

Atlético Madrid defeated Real Madrid 2-1 on Sunday, September 20, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, moving up to second place in La Liga. Real, reduced to ten men early in the second half, drops to third place.

After a tightly contested first half, the derby shifted in the 52nd minute. Dean Huijsen was sent off for a foul on Giuliano Simeone in the penalty area, and Alejandro Grimaldo converted the penalty just a minute later to put Atlético ahead.

Jonathan David doubled the lead in the 59th minute, finishing off a cross from Giuliano Simeone. Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back with a header in the 89th minute from a free kick taken by Bernardo Silva, but it was not enough to prevent the Colchoneros from holding on to their advantage.

David’s goal marks his third in three league matches with Atlético. The Canadian forward, who joined the club earlier this month, was playing in his first Madrid derby.

Atlético now has 16 points after seven matches, one more than Real Madrid. Barcelona remains at the top with 21 points, while José Mourinho’s team suffers its second defeat of the season in the league.