Second-half goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David gave Atlético Madrid a 2-1 victory over 10-man Real Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Victory for Atlético helped them climb above their local rivals and condemned Jose Mourinho’s side to a second defeat of the season from their opening seven games.
It was a cagey first period but the turning point came after the break when Dean Huijsen gave away a penalty and was sent off before Grimaldo tucked away the resulting penalty for his second goal since joining from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
David carried on his fine goalscoring form and made it three goals in his last three games by doubling Atlético’s advantage.
Antonio Rüdiger breathed life into the contest late on but it was too little, too late for Mourinho who suffered defeat in his first meeting with Diego Simeone since 2014.
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The result already leaves Real six points behind 100% Barcelona and they have been leapfrogged by Atlético who are now a point in front of their same-city neighbours.
After a slow start, the game quickly opened up. Atletico’s first proper chance came from Giuliano Simeone, who capitalised on some messy defending but fired wide of the target.
Atletico were growing into the game and Los Blancos were caught sleeping once again which handed an opportunity to the hosts but David Hancko and Lee Kang-in both had efforts blocked.
Real Madrid landed the first shot on target of the contest in the 40th minute, when Arda Guler tried his luck from distance, which needed to be tipped over.
Atletico troubled Thibaut Courtois for the first time just two minutes after the break when Alex Baena tried his luck from range but the Belgium goalkeeper pushed it away.
The game changed when Huijsen brought down Simeone inside the area which led to a penalty and the Spanish defender saw red which forced Real Madrid to play the majority of the half with a man less before Grimaldo slotted his spot-kick away to make it 1-0.
Atletico were looking to increase their lead and Lee was the next player to test Courtois, but he was able to make the save.
They soon made it two when David poked home from Simeone’s cross just before Julian Alvarez was brought into the game.
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The hosts should have been three up when but Romero saw his header stopped by Courtois from a corner before Ibrahima Konate was on hand to deny Alvarez on the goal-line.
The visitors had a chance to pull one back out of nowhere on the counter through Yan Diomande but saw his one-on-one effort pushed out by Jan Oblak.
The noise inside the Metropolitano dropped when Rudiger headed home from Bernardo Silva‘s set-piece but it was too late as Atletico hung on for the points.
