Positives and negatives from Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Atlético de Madrid

Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat against rivals Atlético de Madrid in La Liga on September 21, 2026. Following the loss, the club trails league leaders Barcelona by six points early in the campaign. The performance prompted critical analysis regarding squad selection, tactical setups, and the need for significant lineup adjustments to keep Real Madrid in the title race.

Key takeaways highlighted that substitute Diomande led the team in completed dribbles during his 36 minutes on the pitch, prompting calls for him to start ahead of Vinicius Junior. Additional tactical critiques argued that manager Jose Mourinho should alter the midfield double pivot of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, potentially by including Bernardo Silva or Arda Güler, while also considering Trent Alexander-Arnold over Denzel Dumfries.