Atletico’s Historic Triumph: Simeone Breaks the 75-Year Drought Against Real

Historic Win After a Decade

Diego Simeone has finally exorcised the ghosts of his past with a resounding 5-2 victory against Real Madrid, marking his biggest triumph against them in his tenure as manager. Having previously managed only 12 wins from 47 matches against Los Blancos, with 20 losses and two heartbreaking Champions League final defeats, this victory at the 48th attempt is especially sweet. Before the match at the Metropolitano, Xabi Alonso’s team had a perfect record in LaLiga, winning all six of their matches this season and entering as title favorites. However, Simeone’s squad had other plans, outsmarting Real Madrid with clever set-pieces and exposing their vulnerabilities in a performance that left their rivals thoroughly humiliated.

Robin Le Normand kicked off the scoring with a powerful header in the 14th minute, but the lead was short-lived. Kylian Mbappé equalized for Madrid after a brilliant team play at the 25-minute mark, with Arda Güler then scoring from a Vinicius Junior assist to put Real ahead. Atlético believed they had found an equalizer through Clement Lenglet just before the half, but a VAR review ruled the goal out for handball. However, Alexander Sørloth’s header added to Atlético’s tally in first-half stoppage time, bringing the score to 2-2. After the break, Atlético maintained their momentum, converting a penalty through Julián Alvarez after a foul on Nicolas Gonzalez. Alvarez netted another, and Antoine Griezmann sealed the victory with a close-range finish. This marked Atlético’s first five-goal victory over Real Madrid since the 2014-15 season and their highest scoring match against them since 1950-51.

Few managers can compare to Simeone’s illustrious 14-year reign at Atlético. Much like Andy Murray’s three Grand Slam victories during the dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, Atlético wasn’t regarded as a powerhouse in LaLiga until Simeone’s arrival in 2011. Throughout his tenure, he has claimed two LaLiga titles—in 2013-14 and 2019-20—during an era when Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were at their peak. However, Simeone’s Achilles’ heel has been his struggles against city rivals Real Madrid and reigning champions Barcelona. While El Clasico garners significant attention, the Madrid derby carries immense significance, and losing the local bragging rights is unacceptable for Madridistas. The truth is that Atlético has closed the gap with their wealthier neighbors, largely thanks to Simeone’s influence.