Real Madrid fell 2-1 to Atlético Madrid in the Derbi Madrileño, leaving manager José Mourinho to deliver a blistering critique of the officiating crew and the Spanish Referees’ Committee (CTA) during a memorable post-match press conference.
Wanda Metropolitano Collapse
The fixture at the Wanda Metropolitano saw Real Madrid concede two goals shortly after defender Dean Huijsen received a straight red card in the 52nd minute.
Former Bayer Leverkusen left-back Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty kick in the 53rd minute, before Jonathan David doubled Atlético’s lead in the 59th minute.
German defender Antonio Rüdiger pulled a goal back for Real Madrid in the 89th minute, but the late strike proved too late to salvage a point.
Six-Point Deficit in La Liga
The defeat leaves Real Madrid sitting six points behind league leaders FC Barcelona after just seven matches in horns with the La Liga campaign.
Following the final whistle, Mourinho launched a detailed attack on the appointment of the match officials, specifically targeting the refereeing assignment chosen by the CTA.
Mourinho Targets CTA Appointments
The Real Madrid coach also pointed to VAR official Daniel Jesús Trujillo, alleging a problematic history with the club. “This combination: A referee, a bad referee who has only managed very small games so far, and a VAR official with a long history. Congratulations to the Referees’ Committee for this appointment.”
Unpunished Challenges and Red Card Appeals
Mourinho argued that Atlético players Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in should have been shown red cards during the fierce city clash, claiming the referee mishandled multiple heavy challenges on his squad.
Despite the scoreline, the Portuguese coach praised his players’ initial efforts. His team played “a first half of high quality and with great personality,” Mourinho told reporters, adding that the red card fundamentally altered the match dynamics.
Title Hopes and Club Silence
Real Madrid’s official club website echoed their manager’s frustration with a stark headline in their post-match report: “A miserable refereeing performance decides the derby.”
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Despite the six-point gap behind Barcelona, Mourinho insisted that his side remains fully capable of contending for the Spanish championship. “If they leave us alone, if they allow us to compete on equal terms with everyone else, then it is still a long way to go until the title,” he said.
Real Madrid will now look to regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures as they attempt to close the gap at the top of the La Liga table. Club officials have not yet announced any formal administrative protests regarding the officiating appointments.
