Real Madrid fell 2‑1 to Atletico Madrid in the latest Madrid derby, slipping to third in La Liga. Manager Jose Mourinho turned the post‑match spotlight on the officials, brandishing printed photos of two incidents he says warranted red cards, while rival coach Diego Simeone urged calm.
Real Madrid's 2‑1 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium saw goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David secure the win for the hosts, while Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half. The loss dropped Los Blancos to third place, with Atletico moving into second and Barcelona sitting six points clear at the top after just seven games of the 2026/27 season (Source 1).
Instead of focusing on the result, manager Jose Mourinho directed his frustration at the officiating crew. In a highly charged press conference, he displayed a split‑page photograph of two first‑half challenges he argued should have resulted in red cards. The first image showed Lee Kang‑In's studs striking Federico Valverde's shin, an incident Mourinho claimed merited a dismissal and left Valverde sidelined for three weeks with an ankle injury (Source 1). The second depicted Cristian Romero stamping on Jude Bellingham, another moment Mourinho insisted was a clear red‑card offense (Source 1).
Mourinho's accusations and the club's response
The Real Madrid official X account echoed his sentiment, posting "a dreadful refereeing performance decides the derby" alongside the team's match review (Source 1). Mourinho accused the referees of bias in favor of the home side, suggesting corruption without naming individuals.
Diego Simeone, Atletico's manager, responded on social media, offering advice and urging respect for officials after Mourinho's outburst (Source 2). Simeone's measured reply contrasted sharply with Mourinho's confrontational tone, highlighting the growing tension between the two clubs' leadership.
As the La Liga campaign progresses, the focus remains on whether Real Madrid can recover points and if Mourinho's criticism will prompt any official review of the match officials' performance.