London, 23 March 2026 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Real Madrid edged the derby 3-2 against city rivals Atletico to remain in touch with LaLiga leaders Barcelona but the performance was far from convincing.

Having dragged themselves in front after a Vinicius Junior penalty and Federico Valverde's sixth goal in five games overturned Ademola Lookman's first-half effort, they were unable to hold the lead for very long.

Substitute Nahuel Molina's brilliant, swerving strike from 25 yards restored parity and although Vinicius edged the hosts back in front, Valverde's purple patch ended when he was sent off with 13 minutes remaining for hacking at Alex Baena's ankle.

Real, whose difficulties were not helped pre-match as reports suggested Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped after being late for training, closed the gap to the leaders after Barcelona had briefly extended it to seven with a win earlier in the day.

Despite Valverde hitting a post in only the ninth minute Atletico generated the better chances, with Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin saving from Marcos Llorente and Giuliano Simeone.

Real's response saw Arda Guler twice fire wide before the hosts were opened up by one long pass from deep.

Lookman held up the ball in front of Antonio Rudiger and the back-tracking Dani Carvajal, replacing Alexander-Arnold, long enough for Matteo Ruggeri to overlap.

The left-back's cross into the six-yard area was backheeled by Simeone into the path of the advancing Lookman who poked a shot past Lunin.

Just before half-time Aurelien Tchouameni headed wide before Guler finally tested Juan Musso with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Real appeared to have turned things around in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

When David Hancko brought down Brahim Diaz close to the byline Vinicius converted from the spot and then Valverde seized on Ruggeri's aimless ball into his own penalty area to score.

However, their lead did not last long with Molina's superb strike from distance flying past Lunin.

Alexander-Arnold emerged off the bench just past the hour and within eight minutes it was his diagonal pass which allowed Vinicius to cut in from the left and bend a shot beyond Juan Musso.

Valverde's dismissal offered Atletico hope and Julian Alvarez was denied an equaliser by the frame of the goal.

Photo: EPA