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Jonathan David continued his impressive start at Atlético Madrid by scoring in his second consecutive La Liga match as Diego Simeone’s side defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in the Madrid derby.
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Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot before David doubled Atlético’s advantage in the 59th minute following a well-delivered cross from Giuliano Simeone.
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Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men after Dean Huijsen was sent off for a professional foul, while Antonio Rüdiger’s late header was not enough to rescue the visitors.
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The victory moved Atlético Madrid to second place in La Liga, while Real Madrid suffered a damaging defeat in a fiercely contested encounter at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
September 20, (THEWILL) – Jonathan David continued to make his mark at Atlético Madrid after scoring once again in the club’s 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in Sunday’s Madrid derby, helping Diego Simeone’s side secure a statement win at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
The Canadian striker struck in the 59th minute to double Atlético’s advantage after Alejandro Grimaldo had opened the scoring from the penalty spot. David’s goal came shortly after Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was sent off, leaving the visitors with a numerical disadvantage during a decisive period of the match.
The result marked another productive outing for David, who joined Atlético Madrid earlier in September and has quickly begun to establish himself as an important attacking option for Simeone.
David strikes again as Atlético punish Real Madrid
The opening half ended without a goal, although both sides had opportunities during a competitive encounter. Real Madrid enjoyed periods of possession, but Atlético remained dangerous when attacking through the wide areas and looking for spaces behind the visitors’ defence.
The game changed shortly after the restart when Huijsen pulled Giuliano Simeone’s shirt inside the penalty area. The referee initially showed the Real Madrid defender a yellow card, but a VAR review upgraded the decision to a red card after the foul was judged to have denied a clear opportunity.
Atlético were awarded a penalty, and Alejandro Grimaldo converted in the 53rd minute, giving the home side the lead.
Just six minutes later, David delivered another decisive moment.
Giuliano Simeone sent a low cross into the penalty area, and the Canadian forward positioned himself perfectly to meet the delivery with a simple left-footed finish. The goal made it 2-0 and underlined David’s growing influence since his arrival in Madrid.
The striker had already scored against Real Sociedad in his previous La Liga appearance, meaning his latest effort represented another goal in successive league matches. Spanish outlet AS described the derby goal as David’s third consecutive league goal, highlighting the forward’s rapid adaptation to Atlético’s attack.
Real Madrid respond but fall short
Real Madrid attempted to respond despite playing with 10 men, with manager José Mourinho making substitutions to improve his side’s attacking threat.
Atlético, however, remained organised and continued to create opportunities on the counterattack. Julian Alvarez replaced David in the 62nd minute, with the Canadian receiving an ovation from the home supporters as he made his way off the pitch.
Real Madrid eventually found a goal in the 89th minute when Antonio Rüdiger headed home from a Bernardo Silva delivery.
The late goal gave the visitors hope of completing a comeback, but Atlético defended their lead during the remaining minutes and secured a crucial victory over their city rivals.
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Atlético’s defensive unit were required to remain focused during the closing stages, as Real Madrid pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
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Jonathan David’s Atlético journey gathers momentum
David’s latest goal represents another positive step in his early Atlético Madrid career.
The Canadian forward scored his first La Liga goal against Real Sociedad on 13 September, after previously making his club debut in the Champions League against Liverpool. He has now followed that performance with another important finish, this time against one of the biggest clubs in Spanish football.
His ability to find space in the penalty area and finish quickly was evident against Real Madrid, while his movement allowed Atlético to take advantage of the openings created by Giuliano Simeone.
The victory also strengthened Atlético’s position in the league table. According to Reuters, Simeone’s team moved into second place with 16 points, five behind leaders Barcelona, while Real Madrid dropped to third with 15 points.
For Atlético, the derby victory offers further evidence of their growing confidence. For David, it provides another opportunity to demonstrate why the club brought him to Madrid.
With important fixtures ahead, the Canadian striker’s continued goalscoring form could become a significant factor in Atlético Madrid’s ambitions this season.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
