Despite playing with fewer players, Real Madrid clinched a dramatic victory in the Madrid derby.

Real Madrid secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby of La Liga's 29th round, held early on March 23 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

This was a dramatic scoreline chase, where the home team's resilience shone brightly, especially as they had to play with a reduced squad in the final minutes.

Right after the opening whistle, Real Madrid took proactive control and created numerous dangerous opportunities. However, Atletico's goalkeeper Juan Musso remained focused, repeatedly denying shots from Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde. Meanwhile, the visiting team stuck to their characteristic defensive-counterattacking style under Diego Simeone.

The first-half turning point arrived at minute 33, when Ademola Lookman capitalized on a defensive error by Real Madrid to score for Atletico following a smooth assist. This goal boosted the visitors' confidence and made it harder for Real to penetrate their opponent's goal. The first half concluded with a 1-0 advantage for Atletico Madrid.

In the second half, the match dynamics swiftly reversed. At minute 52, Vinicius Junior successfully converted a penalty, equalizing 1-1 after Brahim Diaz was fouled inside the box. Just minutes later, Federico Valverde exploited a defensive mistake by Atletico to raise the score to 2-1, completing a rapid comeback for the home team.

However, Atletico did not give up easily. At minute 66, Nahuel Molina unleashed a superb long-range strike, bringing the match back to a 2-2 equilibrium. As the game hung in balance, Vinicius struck again at minute 72 with a decisive finish, allowing Real Madrid to regain the lead.

The drama peaked at minute 77 when Valverde received a direct red card after a dangerous foul, forcing Real Madrid to play with only 10 men. In the remaining time, Atletico launched a full-force attack. Julian Alvarez nearly equalized with a shot that hit the post, but luck did not favor the visitors.

Despite facing intense pressure in the closing minutes, Real Madrid's defense and goalkeeper Andriy Lunin held firm. Ultimately, the Royal club claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory, thereby sustaining their hopes in the La Liga championship race for the 2025-26 season.

La Liga standings