In a breathtaking Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid produced a stunning second-half turnaround to defeat city rivals Atlético Madrid 3-2 in La Liga Round 29. Trailing at halftime and facing a determined Atlético side, Carlo Ancelotti’s men showcased their trademark resilience, with Vinícius Junior netting a brace including a crucial penalty to seal a vital victory in the title race.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Match Highlights
| Match Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | La Liga – Round 29 |
| Match | Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid |
| Date | 23rd Mar 2026 |
| Time | 03:00 |
| Half-Time | 0 – 1 |
| Full-Time | 3 – 2 |
First Half: Atlético Strikes First
The opening 45 minutes belonged to the visitors. Atlético Madrid, organized and dangerous on the break, took the lead in the 33rd minute. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, continuing his impressive debut season in Spain, found space inside the box and finished coolly past Thibaut Courtois to put Diego Simeone’s side ahead 1-0.
Real Madrid struggled to break down Atlético’s rigid defensive structure in the first half. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Los Blancos were unable to test Jan Oblak, and the home side entered the dressing room at halftime to a chorus of whistles from their demanding supporters.
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Second Half: Madrid’s Explosive Response
Whatever Ancelotti said in the dressing room worked immediately. Real Madrid emerged with renewed intensity and leveled the score just seven minutes after the restart.

In the 52nd minute, a VAR review confirmed a handball inside the Atlético box. Vinícius Junior stepped up to take the responsibility and sent Jan Oblak the wrong way, converting the penalty to make it 1-1 and ignite the Bernabéu.
The momentum shifted entirely in Madrid’s favor just three minutes later. In the 55th minute, Federico Valverde produced a moment of pure power. The Uruguayan midfielder collected the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed an unstoppable rocket that flew into the top corner, putting Real Madrid ahead 2-1 for the first time in the match.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Match Scorer
| Minute | Team | Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| 33′ | Atletico Madrid | A. Lookman |
| 52′ (Pen) | Real Madrid | V. Junior |
| 55′ | Real Madrid | F. Valverde |
| 66′ | Atletico Madrid | N. Molina |
| 72′ | Real Madrid | V. Junior |
To their credit, Atlético refused to fade. In the 66th minute, Nahuel Molina joined the attack and capitalized on a loose ball inside the box, slotting past Courtois to restore parity at 2-2. The goal silenced the home crowd and set up a grandstand finish.
Atlético Responds, But Vinícius Delivers Again
But Real Madrid’s star man was not finished. Just six minutes after Atlético’s equalizer, Vinícius Junior struck again. In the 72nd minute, a flowing move down the left flank saw the Brazilian receive the ball just inside the box. With a quick shift of his hips, he created space and fired a low, precise shot into the far corner, completing his brace and putting Madrid ahead 3-2.
Atlético pushed desperately for a late equalizer, but Real Madrid’s defense held firm. The final whistle confirmed a 3-2 victory for the home side a result that carries significant weight in the La Liga title race.
Source: Oddspedia
FAQs
What was the score of the latest Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid match?
Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 3-2 on March 22, 2026, in a La Liga fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Who scored in the Real Madrid vs Atletico match (March 22, 2026)?
Vinícius Júnior scored twice for Real Madrid, with Federico Valverde also scoring. Ademola Lookman scored for Atletico Madrid.
Who won the 2026 Spanish Super Cup semifinal between them?
Real Madrid defeated Atletico 2-1 on January 8, 2026, at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.


