Real Madrid‘s perfect start to the 2025-26 season was brought to a screeching halt on Saturday as they were demolished 5-2 by rivals Atlético Madrid in a dreadful derby day performance. Diego Simeone’s side was superior from start to finish, handing Xabi Alonso his first defeat as manager in emphatic fashion and ending Madrid’s seven-game winning streak.
A brief Madrid turnaround
Despite entering the match in imperious form, Real Madrid looked out of sorts from the beginning. Atlético Madrid dominated the early stages and deservedly took the lead in the 14th minute through a Robin Le Normand header. Against the run of play, however, Madrid briefly turned the game on its head. First, Kylian Mbappé rifled home his 10th goal of the season just before the half-hour mark. Just 11 minutes later, a pinpoint cross from Vinícius Júnior found Arda Güler, who calmly fired a half-volley past Jan Oblak to put the visitors ahead.
The lead was short-lived, as Alexander Sørloth scored a crucial equalizer with a powerful header deep into first-half stoppage time.
A second-half collapse
The second half was a complete collapse from the league leaders. Atlético quickly retook the lead from the penalty spot, with Julián Alvarez converting after Güler was whistled for a high boot. The Argentine sealed the game for the hosts in the 63rd minute with a brilliant free kick that curved over the wall and into the back of the net. With Real Madrid‘s spirit broken, Antoine Griezmann added a fifth goal in the 94th minute to complete the embarrassment.
This humbling defeat serves as a harsh reality check for Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid. While their winning streak was impressive, this was their first true test of the La Liga season, and they failed it spectacularly.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Ratings provided by FotMob
- GK: Thibaut Courtois – 4.5
- RB: Dani Carvajal – 6.0
- CB: Éder Militão – 6.6
- CB: Dean Huijsen – 6.1
- LB: Álvaro Carreras – 5.3
- DM: Fede Valverde – 4.8
- DM: Aurélien Tchouaméni – 5.0
- RW: Arda Güler – 8.1
- AM: Jude Bellingham – 7.7
- LW: Vinícius Júnior – 6.6
- ST: Kylian Mbappé – 7.9