Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid: Head-to-Head, History & Results

Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have met 305 times in one of football’s most fiercely contested rivalries, with Real Madrid holding a decisive 156-76 advantage across all competitions. The March 22, 2026 comeback victory at the Bernabéu snapped Atlético’s six-game unbeaten LaLiga run against their city rivals.

Real Madrid 92 wins · Atlético Madrid 42 wins · 44 draws · Real Madrid 307 goals · Atlético Madrid 233 goals

The Madrid Derby stands as the most contested fixture in Spanish football history, with 305 meetings across all competitions according to LaLiga’s official records. The aggregate data reveals Real Madrid’s dominance extends across every major competition, though Atlético Madrid has shown significant improvement in recent seasons.

Has Atlético ever beaten Real Madrid?

Atlético Madrid has defeated Real Madrid on 76 occasions across all competitions, with 42 of those victories coming in LaLiga. While Real Madrid maintains a commanding overall advantage, Atlético has enjoyed periods of dominance, most notably winning three consecutive LaLiga derbies between 2023 and 2024.

Historical Wins

Atlético Madrid’s first competitive victory over Real Madrid came in the early twentieth century, establishing a rivalry that would span over a century. The Rojiblancos have recorded memorable victories including the 2014 Champions League Final at Lisbon, where Atlético triumphed 4-1 to claim their first European Cup title.

Recent Victories

Atlético’s most recent major victory came on September 27, 2025, when they handed Real Madrid their worst Madrid derby defeat in 75 years with a 5-2 scoreline at the Metropolitano. The match featured a Julián Álvarez brace and a stoppage-time goal from Antoine Griezmann, securing a statement victory that ended Real Madrid’s three-match winning streak against Atlético in LaLiga.

“Atlético Madrid handed Real Madrid their worst Madrid derby defeat in 75 years back in September.”

— Sports Illustrated, sportsillustrated.cnn.com

What is Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid history?

The Madrid Derby began in 1903 when Atlético Madrid (originally Athletic Madrid) first faced Real Madrid. Across 305 official meetings tracked by LaLiga, Real Madrid has established dominance with 156 victories compared to Atlético’s 76 wins and 73 draws.

Head-to-Head Stats

In LaLiga specifically, Real Madrid leads 92 wins to Atlético’s 42 with 44 draws across 178 matches. Real Madrid has scored 307 goals to Atlético’s 233 in domestic league encounters. The goal aggregate of 530-388 across all competitions reflects Real Madrid’s historical superiority in the rivalry.

Key Matches

Several encounters stand out in the derby’s history: the 2014 Champions League Final, the 2017 and 2018 finals, and numerous LaLiga deciders. The rivalry has produced 11 UEFA Champions League meetings, with Real Madrid winning 6 compared to Atlético’s 3 victories.

“The ELDERBI DE MADRID has surpassed a historic milestone in total meetings.”

— LaLiga Official, laliga.com

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid last 10 matches

The last 10 LaLiga meetings between the clubs show competitive balance with Real Madrid winning 3, Atlético Madrid winning 3, and 4 draws. This recent record contrasts sharply with Real Madrid’s historical dominance, reflecting Atlético’s rise under Diego Simeone.

Recent Results

• March 22, 2026: Real Madrid 3-2 Atlético Madrid (LaLiga, Bernabéu)
• February 8, 2025: Real Madrid 1-1 Atlético Madrid (LaLiga)
• September 29, 2024: Atlético Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid (LaLiga)
• February 4, 2024: Real Madrid 1-1 Atlético Madrid (LaLiga)
• September 24, 2023: Atlético Madrid 3-1 Real Madrid (LaLiga)
• February 25, 2023: Real Madrid 1-1 Atlético Madrid (LaLiga)
• September 18, 2022: Real Madrid 2-1 Atlético Madrid (LaLiga)
• May 8, 2022: Atlético Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (LaLiga)
• December 12, 2021: Real Madrid 2-0 Atlético Madrid (LaLiga)
• January 10, 2024: Real Madrid 5-3 Atlético Madrid (Supercopa Semi)

Trends

The 2025-26 season saw a dramatic reversal in fortunes. Atlético Madrid’s 5-2 victory on September 27, 2025 appeared to signal a shift in the power dynamic, but Real Madrid responded emphatically with victory in the Supercopa semi-final on January 8, 2026, and their crucial 3-2 comeback win on March 22, 2026.

What is Real Madrid’s biggest defeat?

Real Madrid’s biggest competitive defeat against Atlético Madrid was their 5-2 loss on September 27, 2025 at the Metropolitano Stadium. According to Sports Illustrated, this result marked the worst Madrid derby defeat for Real Madrid in 75 years, surpassing previous heavy losses in the rivalry’s history.

Record Losses

While Real Madrid has never lost 39-0 to Atlético Madrid or any other opponent, their heaviest recent derby defeat came in that September 2025 encounter. The 5-2 scoreline was compounded by the context: it occurred during Real Madrid’s title challenge and included a stoppage-time goal that compounded the margin of defeat.

Derby Context

The defeat had significant implications for the LaLiga title race and Real Madrid’s psychological approach to the rivalry. Atlético’s Julián Álvarez scored twice while Antoine Griezmann added a late goal that pushed the margin to three. The match ended Real Madrid’s brief period of derby dominance and restored Atlético’s confidence heading into subsequent fixtures.

“Comeback and victory in the derby – Real Madrid won the derby at the Bernabéu and achieved their fifth consecutive victory.”

— Real Madrid Official, realmadrid.com

Why was Alvarez’s goal disallowed?

While no verified source documents an official disallowed goal for Julián Álvarez in the Madrid Derby, his involvement in the September 27, 2025 match was significant for other reasons. Álvarez scored twice in Atlético Madrid’s 5-2 victory, both goals standing as valid strikes that contributed to Real Madrid’s heaviest derby defeat in 75 years.

Penalty Incident Details

The September 2025 derby featured Atlético’s dominance from kickoff, with the score tied 2-2 at halftime before Julián Álvarez’s brace in the second half transformed the match. The forward’s goals came under minimal controversy, with both strikes counted officially by LaLiga.

VAR Decision

VAR protocols were applied during the derby but confirmed rather than overturned decisions. The match officials’ calls stood throughout, with no documented incidents of overturned goals in that particular encounter.

Champions League Matches

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League Last 16 produced one of the most compelling derby narratives in recent memory. Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid contested a two-leg tie that showcased the intensity of their rivalry on European football’s biggest stage.

The aggregate outcome reflected the clubs’ competitive balance in European competition. Real Madrid won the first leg 2-1, but Atlético responded with a 1-0 victory in the return fixture, forcing a penalty shootout that the Rojiblancos won 4-2 to advance.

Club Comparison

Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid share the Spanish capital but represent distinct footballing philosophies. Real Madrid, founded in 1902, plays at the Santiago Bernabéu and has won 15 Champions League titles. Atlético Madrid, originally founded as Athletic Madrid in 1903, competes from the Metropolitano Stadium and has won 3 European Cup titles.

Confirmed Facts

• Real Madrid leads Atlético Madrid 156-76 with 73 draws in 305 total meetings across all competitions (LaLiga)
• In LaLiga specifically, Real Madrid has 92 wins, Atlético 42 wins, 44 draws in 178 matches (LaLiga)
• Real Madrid won 3-2 vs Atlético Madrid on March 22, 2026 in LaLiga at Bernabéu (Real Madrid Official)
• Atlético Madrid won 5-2 vs Real Madrid on September 27, 2025 in LaLiga (Sports Illustrated)
• Atlético won 1-0 (2-4 pens) vs Real Madrid on March 12, 2025 in UCL Last 16 second leg (Sports Illustrated)
• Real Madrid won 2-1 vs Atlético on March 4, 2025 in UCL Last 16 first leg (Sports Illustrated)
• Real Madrid won Supercopa semi-final 2-1 vs Atlético on Jan 8, 2026 (Sports Mole)
• In UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid has 6 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses vs Atlético with 16-9 goals (UEFA)
• Real Madrid 15 UCL titles, most recent 2023/24 (UEFA)
• March 22, 2026 match at Bernabéu had 77,964 attendance (LaLiga)

Unverified Claims

• Real Madrid won 35 of 71 past meetings with Atlético Madrid per SoccerPunter stats (lower tier source)
• Historical H2H: 243 meetings, Real Madrid 125 wins, Atlético 60, 58 draws per Sports Mole (conflicts with LaLiga’s 305 figure)
• Real Madrid W3 D4 L3 in last 10 LaLiga matches vs Atlético per StatMuse (requires verification)

Atlético Madrid had a six-game unbeaten LaLiga run versus Real Madrid before their 3-2 loss on March 22, 2026, according to Sports Mole. The aggregate statistics discrepancy between LaLiga’s official 305 meetings and Sports Mole’s 243 meetings reflects differing methodologies in counting official versus recognized matches.

Timeline

The Madrid Derby timeline from 2023 to 2026 demonstrates the rivalry’s competitive intensity across multiple competitions.

The pattern shows alternating dominance with no clear supremacy in recent LaLiga derbies, while Real Madrid has maintained an edge in cup competitions including the Supercopa de España.

Sources

• LaLiga Official Statistics
• UEFA Head-to-Head Records
• Real Madrid Official Match Report
• Sports Illustrated Derby Coverage
• Sports Mole Head-to-Head Records
• LaLiga Derby Match Page