Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid 3-2: La Liga – as it happened

Real Madrid keep the gap to just four points on league leaders Barcelona, thanks to their 3-2 comeback win over Atletico.

Vinicius Junior led the way with a brace, while Valverde also grabbed a goal before he was controversially sent off.

We hope you enjoyed this pulsating encounter, and from Patrick Keddie and me, Rohan Sharma, it’s goodbye.

🏁 FT: @RealMadridEN 3-2 @atletienglish
⚽ 33′ Lookman
⚽ 52′ @vinijr(p)
⚽ 55′ @fedeevalverde
⚽ 66′ Molina
⚽ 72′ @vinijr
👉 @emirates pic.twitter.com/h5QdzfPkV5

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 22, 2026

Our attention shifts to the FIFA World Cup 2026 friendlies next, and we have quite the mouth-watering prospect for you.

Heavyweights Brazil and France get set to lock horns on Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Boston, US.

Live coverage begins at 17:00 GMT, so make sure to tune in!

𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄! 💙🔥

Heading to the United States with 2 matches against Brazil 🇧🇷 and Colombia 🇨🇴

🔜 See you on Monday at Clairefontaine for the arrival 😄 pic.twitter.com/27BXT2xOHY

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) March 19, 2026

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone spoke after the match: “I don’t think the referee’s decisions affected the match. We could have done much more.

“We could have defended their goals better and done more in attack.

“We’re facing teams that play well, and if you give them anything, they’ll hurt you. We deserved more.”

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa shared his thoughts with Real Madrid TV: “We have done it! The job is done!

“My favourite thing about tonight was the pure Real Madrid mentality we showed.

“We went down 0-1, then made it 2-1, then they tied it again, so we had to attack strongly again to get the win.

“Nobody understood that red card on Fede[rico Valverde]. Sometimes you don’t see what happens on the pitch. They explained [what happened] to me.

“We’re in a good moment. It wasn’t an easy match at all. The opponent made it very difficult for us.

“We had to show a very strong mentality; they equalised again fiercely, and we had to press again. That’s what I liked the most – the mentality of this team.”

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior spoke to Real Madrid TV after the match: “Today is a good day. I am a very happy Madridista.

“Florentino Perez always tells me that I have to score two goals, and today, I was able to put in two for him.

“We had a clear plan for our work: to stay together, playing as a team. I’m very happy, because at these moments of the season is when I score the most goals.

“The credit goes to everyone: to the coach, to the players, to the fans. This is the result of all the work we’ve put in throughout the week.

“We went to Manchester and won and defended well; then we came here.

“We controlled the game from the start. Even though we conceded a goal, we continue to evolve and work hard for matches like these.

Barcelona are in the top spot, with 73 points.

Real move to within four points of them in second, with 69 points.

Atletico Madrid are in fourth place, with 57 points.

With all the matches wrapped up, here are your final results:

• Villarreal 3-1 Real Sociedad
• Elche 2-1 Mallorca
• Espanyol 1-2 Getafe
• Levante 4-2 Real Oviedo
• Osasuna 1-0 Girona
• Sevilla 0-2 Valencia
• Barcelona 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
• Celta Vigo 3-4 Alaves
• Athletic Club 2-1 Real Betis
• Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid

Movistar caught up with Atletico’s Johnny Cardoso after the match: “Well, we tried. We knew it was going to be a tough game.

“We took our chances, but there were some strange decisions from the referee. He didn’t use the same criteria for both teams [when it came to fouls].”

When asked about Valverde’s send-off, he said, “Yes, it was definitely a red card.”

It is the result they would have wanted most, with Barcelona four points ahead.

After going down against the run of play in the 34th minute thanks to Lookman’s effort, the Madridistas looked down and out.

But in the second half, in the space of just three minutes, they completely flipped the script.

Vinicius Junior’s penalty levelled the scores before Valverde’s opportune strike put them into the lead.

Molina’s golazo restored parity before Vinicius scored his second of the night soon after to put the hosts back into the lead.

A late send-off for Valverde fortunately didn’t put a damper on proceedings.

Full-time: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

FT: #ELDERBIDEMADRID 3-2

Real Madrid take the derby. 🤍#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/4QIMfRTcVZ

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 22, 2026

Real survive a nervy last 20 minutes to keep their title hopes alive.

Full-time: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

With time running out, Baena has a go from outside the box, on the left side.

Lunin, though, is able to see it all the way through as he dives forward to hold onto it.

90+6 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

Everyone is back for Real as they try to close this out. Atletico win a corner from the left side, which is played short.

Ruggeri finds Sorloth in the box with a cross from the left side.

Sorloth has the accuracy down as he heads towards the far post, but not enough power behind it to beat Lunin.

90+3 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

Atletico have six more minutes to try and sabotage Real’s title hopes.

You can cut the tension in the stadium with a knife.

90 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

Vinicius Junior hands the captain’s armband to Lunin as he trudges off towards the touchline.

His replacement, Alvaro Carreras, rushes onto the field.

87 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

It is from the left side, just outside the box.

Alexander-Arnold tries to curl it towards the near post, but Musso is able to keep it out.

Quite the effort from the Englishman, who was quite accurate from that angle.

84 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

The Argentinian shoots from outside the box, aiming for the right post.

He beats Lunin, but is unable to beat the upright as the ball ricochets dangerously across the box.

Real quickly dispense the danger before any of his teammates can get to it.

81 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

Valverde is shown the dreaded red card after clipping Baena from behind.

It looks a bit harsh, as replays show the challenge made didn’t seem warranted.

His teammates rush to his defence, with Valverde also trying to understand how the decision came about.

The referee heads over to the touchline to speak to Arbeloa soon after.

Valverde marches off, and Atletico have a golden opportunity, with their opponents down to 10 men.

77 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

Guler’s and Diaz’s night comes to a close as Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga take their place.

75 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

Real are back in the lead in what has been a humdinger of a second half.

Alexander-Arnold finds Vinicius Junior on the left side. The Brazilian cuts in before curling a lovely shot past a diving Musso into the bottom right corner.

Simply sensational from Vini!

72 mins: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Madrid 

Alex Baena comes on for Simeone.

71 mins: Real Madrid 2-2 Atletico Madrid