Real Madrid trails by two goals, reduced to 10 men in derby disaster

Real Madrid find themselves staring down a 2-0 deficit at the Metropolitano Stadium, reduced to 10 men after defender Dean Huijsen was sent off in a Madrid derby that has gone spectacularly sideways. Atlético Madrid have taken full control of the matchweek 7 clash, and the second half has barely begun.

The turning point came shortly after the break. Huijsen was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a foul on Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area, a challenge deemed to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. From that moment, the match tilted decisively in Atlético’s favor.

Two goals in six minutes sealed the momentum

Alejandro Grimaldo stepped up to the spot and converted the resulting penalty in the 51st minute, giving Atlético a 1-0 lead against a shell-shocked 10-man Real Madrid. Six minutes later, Jonathan David doubled the advantage, making it 2-0 before the hour mark.

For Real Madrid, the challenge now is not just climbing back into the match but doing so with a numerical disadvantage and a defense already stretched thin. The absence of Antonio Rüdiger through injury had already left the backline looking vulnerable before kickoff. Losing Huijsen to a red card only compounds the problem.

Huijsen’s red card history adds another layer

This is not the first time Huijsen has found himself at the center of a controversial dismissal. The young defender received a red card back in September 2025 during a match against Real Sociedad, a decision that was later deemed incorrect by Spain’s refereeing committee following appeals from Real Madrid.

The pattern is concerning for a player who was brought in to provide defensive stability. Two red cards in roughly a year, both in high-profile matches, raises legitimate questions about his decision-making in pressure moments.

Real Madrid’s defensive depth is being tested

Rüdiger’s absence looms large over this performance. The German international has been one of Real Madrid’s most reliable defensive figures, and his injury has left a gap that the remaining options have struggled to fill. With Huijsen now facing a suspension on top of the red card, the defensive rotation gets even thinner.

Carlo Ancelotti’s squad depth was supposed to be a strength this season. Seven matches into the La Liga campaign, it is being tested in ways the coaching staff probably did not anticipate this early.