Bellingham and Romero Clash as Atletico Beat Real Madrid in Fiery Derby
Atletico Madrid claimed a 2-1 derby win over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano, with Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David scoring before Antonio Rudiger pulled one back late. The result was accompanied by major refereeing disputes, a red card for Dean Huijsen and an increasingly personal confrontation between Jude Bellingham and Atletico defender Cristian Romero.
Real, managed by Jose Mourinho, played the closing stages with 10 men after Huijsen’s dismissal. Their anger had already been heightened by Romero’s challenge on Bellingham, which was reviewed by VAR but resulted in only a yellow card.
The visitors also believed Atletico’s Lee Kang-in should have been sent off for a high tackle on Federico Valverde. Bellingham made that view clear after the final whistle, repeatedly telling referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias that there had been “two red cards”.
Bellingham and Romero renew World Cup feud
The hostility between Bellingham and Romero had roots in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, and it resurfaced throughout an intense Madrid derby.
Footage from Movistar programme El Dia Despues showed Romero first complaining to Huijsen that fouls were continually being awarded in Real’s favour. Bellingham intervened, prompting Romero to tell the England midfielder to stop complaining and be quiet.
Bellingham responded by calling Romero a coward. The Argentine defender then mocked him over his tears following England’s World Cup elimination, telling him to continue crying.
The Real midfielder answered with a reference to Romero’s Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi, accusing the centre-back of being far more vocal when Messi was beside him than in the derby. Romero’s final response was to call Bellingham a “cry baby”.
Mourinho protests and Atletico respond
Mourinho carried his objections into his post-match media appearance. The Real Madrid coach arrived with printed images of Romero’s tackle on Bellingham and Lee’s challenge on Valverde, suggesting the photographs made his case without requiring a lengthy explanation.
Atletico later answered on social media with a video of a printer producing the screenshots. Their message urged an end to referee harassment.
The defeat leaves Real Madrid fourth in the table and six points behind early leaders Barcelona. Mourinho now faces a response from a side whose discipline and defensive work came under severe pressure in the capital.
Atletico, meanwhile, will seek to turn a heated derby victory into sustained title momentum. Romero’s combative display brought controversy, but the hosts emerged with three points and a significant early statement in the championship race.
