17 Shots and 61% Possession Send Atletico Madrid Past Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday, earning a La Liga victory in Regular Season Round 7. Alejandro Grimaldo’s penalty and Jonathan David’s finish put the hosts in control before Antonio Rüdiger scored late for Real Madrid.

Atletico take control after the interval

The match turned shortly after half-time. Dean Huijsen was sent off for Real Madrid in the 52nd minute, leaving the visitors with ten players. One minute later, Grimaldo converted Atletico’s penalty to open the scoring.

Atletico then doubled their advantage in the 59th minute. Giuliano Simeone Baldini supplied the assist for Jonathan David, who scored a normal goal. David was substituted for Julián Álvarez three minutes later, completing a 62-minute contribution that included one shot on target and one key pass.

Rüdiger gives Real Madrid late hope

Real Madrid responded in the 89th minute when Rüdiger scored from Bernardo Silva’s assist. The goal narrowed the deficit, but Atletico held on to secure the win. Rüdiger had entered in the 54th minute for Arda Güler and finished with one shot on target.

The disciplinary moments shaped the contest. Atletico coach Diego Pablo Simeone was booked in the sixth minute, while Marc Pubill and Cristian Romero also received yellow cards. Real Madrid’s Denzel Dumfries and Jude Bellingham were booked, but Huijsen’s red card was the decisive dismissal.

Statistics show Atletico’s control

Atletico controlled 61% of possession and completed 554 accurate passes compared with Real Madrid’s 338. Their 615 total passes also reflected a greater share of the ball. The hosts created the clearer chances, recording 17 shots to Real Madrid’s eight, nine shots on goal to three and 12 shots inside the box to three.

Those numbers support Atletico’s overall control, although the scoreline could have been more comfortable before Rüdiger’s late goal. Real Madrid’s goalkeeper made five saves, while Atletico’s goalkeeper made two. Atletico also committed more fouls, 19 to six, while Real Madrid won 18 free kicks to Atletico’s six.

Result reshapes the early table

Atletico entered the match fourth with 13 points from six games, while Real Madrid were second with 15. The victory lifts Atletico to 16 points, moving them ahead of Real Madrid’s unchanged total of 15 in the early-season standings. Atletico’s recent sequence now includes five wins in seven league matches, while Real Madrid’s record becomes five wins and two losses.

David was the standout performer by match rating, earning 7.8 after scoring once in 62 minutes. D. Hancko also rated highly at 7.5, while Koke recorded a 7.2 rating after supplying two key passes in 44 minutes.