The first Madrid derby of the season already carries plenty of weight as Real Madrid travel across the city to face rivals Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano on Saturday.
Los Blancos sit atop the La Liga table, the only team in the Spanish top flight still perfect through six matches, holding a two-point lead over Barcelona.
Atleti, meanwhile, have struggled with consistency to begin the season, with just two victories in league play thus far placing them ninth in the table. Diego Simeone’s side has been poor defensively, keeping just one clean sheet through six games.
While both clubs are navigating a busy fixture list with Champions League games next week, there is a heightened focus around the importance of this match both in a vacuum as a rivalry meeting and in the context of the domestic top flight.
The Sporting News is following the Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.
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Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid score
| Score (1H) | Goal scorers | |
| Atletico Madrid | 1 | Le Normand (14′) |
| Real Madrid | 2 | Mbappe (25′), Guler (37′) |
Location: Metropolitano Stadium (Madrid, Spain)
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas
Starting lineups:
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2, right to left): 13. Oblak (GK) — 14. Llorente, 15. Lenglet, 24. Le Normand, 17. Hancko — 20. Simeone, 6. Koke, 8. Barrios, 23. Gonzalez — 9. Sorloth, 19. Alvarez.
Real Madrid (4-4-2 diamond, right to left): 1. Courtois (GK) — 2. Carvajal, 3. Militao, 24. Huijsen, 18. Carreras — 8. Valverde, 14. Tchouameni, 5. Bellingham, 15. Guler — 10. Mbappe, 7. Vinicius Jr.
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Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid live updates, highlights from La Liga
39th min: Chance, Atletico Madrid! Julian Alvarez hits the post from distance! He beats the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but strikes the outside of the woodwork!
37th min: GOAL! REAL MADRID! THE VISITORS ARE IN FRONT IN A FLASH, AS ARDA GULER STRIKES IT SWEETLY!
Kylian Mbappe finds Vinicius Jr. down the left flank, and the Brazilian pulls it back to Guler all alone on the penalty spot. Guler smacks it first-time with his left foot, and while the shot is centrally placed, Jan Oblak can’t quite reach it as it finds the back of the net!
Real Madrid were second-best through the first 25 minutes of the match, but they’ve turned it completely around!
Watch in USA:
VINI JR. WITH A STUNNING ASSIST TO ARDA GÜLER!
GÜLER WITH A GOAL AND ASSIST TO TURN IT AROUND FOR REAL 😨 pic.twitter.com/QIJwNcVcRB
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 27, 2025
25th min: GOAL! REAL MADRID! KYLIAN MBAPPE SCORES OUT OF NOTHING, AND WE’RE LEVEL!
Real Madrid have been nowhere near the pace of the game, but they’re level on the brilliance of Mbappe, who plays a wonderful combination with Arda Guler and gets free down the right side of the six-yard box! The finish comes from a very tight angle, but it’s nothing for the Frenchman who lifts his side from the doldrums!
Watch in USA:
MBAPPE EQUALIZES JUST LIKE THAT FOR REAL MADRID! GREAT ASSIST FROM ARDA GÜLER 🤝 pic.twitter.com/zkkU2T97sL
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 27, 2025
22nd min: Chance, Atletico Madrid! Alvaro Carreras, who has been poor so far, has his pocket picked by Pablo Barrios who feeds Alexander Sorloth through on goal, but he’s stymied by Thibaut Courtois! The Real Madrid goalkeeper comes off his line to close off the shot and make the save, but he pays for it taking Sorloth’s studs to the chest.
The referee blows only for a common foul and does not show any further punishment to the Atleti striker.
17th min: Atleti have been by far the better side so far, as Jude Bellingham is forced into a last-ditch tackle on Pablo Barrios to keep the midfielder from being in on goal through the left side of the six-yard box.
Moments later Arda Guler fouls Nico Gonzalez on the right touchline, just whacking the back of his calf. Diego Simeone is incensed, wanting a yellow card, as does the home crowd, but cooler heads prevail. Simeone has to be careful coming so far out of his technical area to protest a call, given how he’s already been sent off once for the incident with the Arsenal crowd in European play.
14th min: GOAL! ATLETICO MADRID! ROBIN LE NORMAND HEADS IN FROM CLOSE RANGE! Giuliani Simeone, the coach’s son, floats a recycled cross into the six-yard box, and there is the Atleti defender to poke it into the net! He out-jumps Aurelien Tchouameni!
Watch in USA:
LE NORMAND WITH A HEADER TO PUT ATLETI AHEAD OF REAL IN THE MADRID DERBY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aE3XTTOGpC
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 27, 2025
5th min: Chance, Atletico Madrid! WHAT A TACKLE BY EDER MILITAO TO SAVE A CHANCE! Alexander Sorloth is clean through on goal, but he takes ages to get his shot off and is tackled from behind Militao who comes through the back and cleans out the ball! It’s a brilliant challenge. What took Sorloth so long to fire on net???
The Brazilian is down injured, and looks to be in a lot of pain as his right ankle may have taken the brunt of the challenge. He eventually rises to his feet and will continue on, leaving Raul Asencio on the bench for at least a little longer.
Kickoff: They’re under way at the Metropolitano! Only Barcelona won more at their home ground in last season’s league play than Atletico Madrid, who are historically exceptional at the friendly confines.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
15 mins to kickoff: Four of the last nine Madrid derbies in La Liga have ended with a level scoreline. Can Atletico Madrid manage to snatch a point once again today? They would surely be happy with that result if it were to come to pass.
Last 3 Madrid derby in LaLiga:
1-1 draw
1-1 draw
1-1 drawFour of the last nine Madrid derby in LaLiga ended in a 1-1 draw. pic.twitter.com/HKqhrDOzvE
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) September 27, 2025
30 mins to kickoff: Xabi Alonso has selected eight different lineups in his eight matches in charge of Real Madrid so far this season. How will Jude Bellingham look today in his first start since shoulder surgery?
1 hour 15 mins to kick: Now the Atletico Madrid lineup is in as well. Diego Simeone is going with a more classic 4-4-2 rather than the temptation to use five along the back against a strong Real Madrid side. He has dropped Antoine Griezmann and gone with Alexander Sorloth up front alongside Julian Alvarez.
1 hour 30 mins to kick: The Real Madrid starting lineup is already out, and indeed Jude Bellingham starts! He is in the XI alongside Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Arda Guler in what is likely a 4-4-2 diamond reminiscent of the Carlo Ancelotti days. It is Franco Mastantuono who is the unlucky one to be dropped for the England star.
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was once on the other end of this derby, playing three years for Atletico Madrid on a rare multi-year loan deal from Chelsea. From 2011-14, he helped the club win a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey crown, a Europa League title, and a spot in the 2013/14 Champions League final.
The incredibly successful spell led the club to lay a small plaque for his services to Atleti. Yet now, as he plays on the other side of the Madrid derby, fans have taken to throwing trash on the plaque to make their feelings on his current situation known.
🚨 Atleti fans have thrown rubbish on Thibaut Courtois’ plaque at the Metropolitano ahead of the Madrid derby.
The club laid the plaque for the goalkeeper for his time with them. pic.twitter.com/VcgVWQH4KQ
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) September 27, 2025
2 hours to kickoff: One of the toughest decision for Xabi Alonso moving forward is how to bring Jude Bellingham back into the starting lineup for Real Madrid.
Bellingham has been occupying the No. 10 role since joining Real Madrid, shouldering a heavy load in midfield. In his absence, however, Arda Guler has been a revelation, exceeding all expectations. Now, coach Xabi Alonso faces a choice: replace an in-form Guler or move Bellingham back to the base of midfield, displacing either Federico Valverde or Aurélien Tchouaméni, both regular starters for the club.
Xabi Alonso made it sound like he’s leaning towards the former, but that could simply be a smokescreen.
You previously said that Bellingham is a midfielder…
Xabi Alonso: He is an attacking midfielder. He can play a role in building attacks and finishing them.
He has the ability to cover wide areas. We need his flexibility and versatility. pic.twitter.com/d6mPMUEE03
— Real Madrid Info ³⁶ (@RMadridInfo) September 26, 2025
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid kick off time
This La Liga match kicks off from the Metropolitano on Saturday, September 27 at 4:15 p.m. local time in Madrid, Spain. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Sat, Sep. 27 | 10:15 a.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Sat, Sep. 27 | 7:15 a.m. PT |
| UK | Sat, Sep. 27 | 3:15 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Sun, Sep. 28 | 12:15 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sat, Sep. 27 | 7:45 p.m. IST |
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid lineups, team news
With such a short turnaround in between matches, Simeone will rotate his options, as Alexander Sorloth returns following a one-game suspension for the Rayo game.
Midfield pair Johnny Cardoso and Thiago Almada remain sidelined through injury with Jose Maria Gimenez not ready for a match return following an ankle issue.
Club captain Koke was thought unlikely to start three successive games, with Nico Gonzalez set to come in, but instead the veteran midfielder retains his place. Gonzalez also enters the lineup, with Conor Gallagher the one to make way instead.
Atletico Madrid starting lineup (4-4-2): Oblak (GK) — Llorente, Lenglet, Le Normand, Hancko — Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Gonzalez — Sorloth, Alvarez.
Atletico Madrid subs: Musso (GK), Kostis (GK), Galan, Pubill, Ruggeri, Molina, Baena, Gallagher, Seidu, Griezmann, Martin, Raspadori.
Real Madrid’s injury list has not changed following the trip to Levante, but Alonso will look to freshen things up. with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy still out.
Alonso has hinted a start for Jude Bellingham, after two cameo substitute appearances, and the England international could start over Dani Ceballos with captain Dani Carvajal back after being rested in midweek.
Someone had to come out of the regular XI to make way for Bellingham, and the unlucky man is Franco Mastantuono meaning Arda Guler, Federico Valverde, and Aurelien Tchouameni are all involved.
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-4-2 diamond): Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras — Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Guler — Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid subs: Lunin (GK), Mestre (GK), Alaba, F. Garcia, Asencio, Camavinga, Ceballos, B. Diaz, Rodrygo, Mastantuono, G. Garcia, Endrick.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | ESPN Deportes | ESPN+, Fubo |
| Canada | TSN5 | TSN+, Amazon Prime Video |
| UK | — | LaLigaTV |
| Australia | beIN Sports 2 | beIN Sports Connect, Amazon Prime |
| India | — | FanCode |
