In a post-match press conference following Real Madrid's 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in the La Liga derby, Jose Mourinho accused referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias of failing to manage the game properly. Specifically, Mourinho criticized two missed red cards and complained that his team faced significant challenges after Dean Huijsen was sent off for a penalty foul, reducing Real Madrid to ten men for much of the second half. Meanwhile, midfielder Federico Valverde sustained an ankle injury during the match and will undergo further tests.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a heated La Liga derby match on September 20 at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. The match saw Atletico rise to second place with 15 points, trailing Barcelona by five points, while Real Madrid dropped to fourth with 13 points. Early in the second half, Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, leaving his team down to ten men. Despite this disadvantage, Real Madrid managed a late consolation goal from Antonio Rüdiger. Atletico's goals were scored by Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David in the second half.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was highly critical of the officiating post-match, presenting printed photos to media during his press conference to highlight what he believed were missed red cards for Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-In, both from Atletico. Mourinho argued that these missed penalties significantly impacted Real Madrid's performance in the second half when they played a man down nearly the entire time. Despite the loss, Atletico manager Diego Simeone remained content with his team's victory. The controversy over officiating decisions overshadowed much of the post-match discussion. Both teams now face their next league matches after an international break.
Written for “Madrid Derby Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.
Jose Mourinho needed only a sheet of paper to deliver his verdict on La Liga’s Madrid derby, waving images of two first-half tackles as he accused the officials of losing control in Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid.
asserted
he → need → Madrid
Real were furious that Atletico defender Cristian Romero was not sent off for a stamp on Jude Bellingham and also complained about a challenge by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde, before the visitors were themselves reduced to 10 men five minutes after half-time in the heated capital derby on Sunday.
asserted
visitors → send → Sunday
Valverde finished the match but was later diagnosed with “severe trauma to his left ankle”, the club said in a statement.
asserted
club → finish → statement
The midfielder will undergo further tests, it added.
asserted
it → undergo → tests
“We could skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here,” Mourinho said, holding up the images in what was the start of a near five-minute rant.
uncertain
what → skip → rant
The difficulties we’ve faced since the sending-off: 11 against 10.
asserted
we → face → 10
Well, we can imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like if justice had been done.”
asserted
justice → imagine → nine
Real defender Dean Huijsen was dismissed for bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the area as the last defender, allowing Alejandro Grimaldo to score with a low spot kick.
asserted
Grimaldo → dismiss → kick
Jonathan David doubled Atletico’s lead six minutes later, with Antonio Ruediger heading in a free kick late to reduce the deficit.
asserted
Ruediger → double → deficit
Mourinho said he could only “hug” his players after what he described as a first half “full of class and great character”, but he aimed sharp criticism at referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias and those who appointed him.
uncertain
who → say → him
“They’ve put a referee, aged 41, with no international experience – it’s certainly not because he’s a great referee,” Mourinho said.
asserted
Mourinho → put → experience
“Then the poor chap has come here and hasn’t been able to cope with the pressure – and it really is intense pressure.
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it → come → pressure
I call it ’80s-style pressure’ here in this stadium, which you hardly ever see these days.”
asserted
you → call → which
Asked about being six points behind Barcelona, Mourinho offered a pointed reply.
asserted
Mourinho → ask → reply
“If they just leave us in peace and let us compete on a level playing field with everyone else, we’ve still got a long way to go,” he said.
asserted
he → leave → way
“I don’t want to go so far as to say this was set up …
asserted
this → want → ?
I want to believe that they simply made a mistake.”
asserted
they → want → mistake
Asked about Mourinho’s comments, Atletico manager Diego Simeone urged restraint.
asserted
Simeone → ask → restraint
“Whoever is speaking – be it me, Mourinho, Hansi Flick or Manuel Pellegrini, anyone – we have to be careful what we say,” Simeone said.
asserted
Simeone → speak → what
“When you step outside the bounds of respect, whoever you are, it’s not on.
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it → step → respect
You can’t cross that line.”
asserted
You → cross → line
Simeone preferred to focus on Atletico’s performance.
asserted
Simeone → prefer → performance
“Today we saw a great match; we defended very well against a team that plays very well,” he said.
asserted
he → see → team
“We controlled the match when it was 11 against 11.
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it → control → 11
We continued to control it when it became 10 against 11.
asserted
it → continue → 11
But this isn’t just another step towards continuing to grow and improve.”
asserted
this → continue → ?
Atletico climbed above Real to second in the standings on 16 points, five behind leaders Barcelona and one ahead of Real and Real Betis.
asserted
Atletico → climb → Real
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