Atletico Madrid Edge Real Madrid 2-1 in La Liga Derby After Dean Huijsen Red Card

Atletico Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over 10-man Real Madrid in the first capital derby of the Spanish league season at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. Second-half goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David powered Atletico past their city rivals, lifting Diego Simeone's side into second place in the La Liga standings with 16 points.

Real Madrid suffered their second league defeat of the campaign and dropped to fourth place in the table, standing six points behind leaders Barcelona after seven matches. Antonio Rudiger provided a late reply for the visitors with an 89th-minute header, but the score came too late to alter the outcome after a match defined by second-half disciplinary turning points and early VAR interventions.

The contest shifted decisively in the 52nd minute when Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red card. Referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias initially awarded a penalty and issued a yellow card after Huijsen pulled down Giuliano Simeone inside the area as the Atletico forward chased David Hancko's long pass. Following a VAR review by official Trujillo Suarez, the caution was upgraded to a red card because Huijsen made no attempt to play the ball while denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Alejandro Grimaldo converted the ensuing 53rd-minute penalty past Thibaut Courtois to break the deadlock. Jonathan David extended Atletico's lead six minutes later, sliding in to finish a low cross from Giuliano Simeone after neat combination play with Lee Kang-in.

Friction characterized the opening period before the goals arrived. Real Madrid players expressed strong anger in the 35th minute when Jude Bellingham was caught by a fierce challenge from Cristian Romero. Although Bellingham was initially booked, VAR intervention led the referee to rescind that yellow card and instead penalize Romero with a caution for stamping on the England midfielder's thigh.

Real Madrid players protested again before halftime, appealing unsuccessfully for a red card when Lee Kang-in appeared to stamp on Federico Valverde. Following the final whistle, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho criticized the officiating, telling reporters that there were two clear red cards that should have gone against Atletico players during the heated encounter.

Atletico's victory moves them five points behind Barcelona, who maintained their perfect start with a 3-1 win against Sevilla. Real Madrid head into the international break sitting in fourth place, one point behind Atletico and Real Betis, with managerial concerns mounting after consecutive early-season domestic losses.