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Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid Timeline: Head-to-Head History

Owen Ethan Campbell Foster • 2026-05-05 • Reviewed by Hanna Berg

In over a century of rivalry, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid have locked horns 305 times — producing Champions League finals, penalty shootouts decided by millimetres, and scorelines that still spark debate in bars across Madrid.

Total matches: 305 · LaLiga matches: 174 · Biggest Atleti win: 5-0 (1947) · Biggest Real win: 7-3 · Recent UCL pens: Atleti 1-0 Real (2-4 pens, 2025)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact win tallies without full data access
  • Precise goal counts in older friendlies
3Timeline signal
  • First match: February 28, 1904 (4-0 friendly) (LaLiga Official)
  • Next fixture: March 22, 2026, LaLiga (LaLiga Official)
4What’s next
  • March 22, 2026 LaLiga meeting scheduled
  • 2025 UCL quarter-final tie settled

Five key numbers capture the Madrid Derby’s scale: one rivalry name, one early-1900s origin point, 305 total meetings, 174 LaLiga clashes, and one confirmed upcoming fixture.

Field Value
Rivalry name Madrid Derby
First meeting Early 1900s
Total meetings 305
LaLiga meetings 174
Next fixture 22/03/2026 LaLiga

Who scored Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid?

Goal records in this rivalry tell a story of dominance and defiance. Across all competitions, Real Madrid has found the net 530 times against Atlético, while Atlético has managed 388 goals against their city rivals. In LaLiga specifically, Real leads 307–233 across 174 meetings. The gap reflects decades of different resources, but Atlético’s upset wins show that goals alone don’t decide derbies.

Recent match scorers

  • March 4, 2025: Real Madrid 2–1 Atleti — Real struck twice in that LaLiga encounter
  • March 12, 2025: Atleti 1–0 Real (2–4 pens) — no goals in 90 minutes; the tie was settled in the penalty shootout

All-time top scorers

The upshot

Real Madrid’s goal advantage isn’t just about quality — it’s about history. Atlético’s best scorers against Real tend to be flash-in-the-pan heroes rather than consistent derby performers, which makes their upset wins all the more remarkable.

Have Atlético Madrid ever beaten Real Madrid?

Yes — repeatedly. Atlético Madrid has taken 76 wins across 305 meetings, despite Real Madrid holding a commanding overall lead with 156 victories. The narrative of Atlético as eternal underdog glosses over some genuine thrashings they have delivered to Real over the years.

Historic upsets

  • 1947–48 La Liga: Atlético Madrid 5–0 Real Madrid — the biggest margin of victory for Atlético in the fixture
  • 1958–59 La Liga: Real Madrid 5–0 Atlético Madrid — Real’s own dominant response
  • Recent high-scoring: Real Madrid 7–3 Atlético Madrid — the most lopsided modern scoreline

Recent victories

  • 2014 UCL Final: Real Madrid 4–1 Atlético — a final, but Atlético had been competing at the highest level
  • 2016 UCL Final: Real Madrid 1–1 Atlético (5–3 pens) — Atlético pushed Real all the way in a penalty shootout
  • 2025 UCL quarter-final: Atleti 1–0 Real (2–4 pens) — Atlético won the tie despite losing the decisive shootout
The paradox

Atlético’s biggest victories often come in clusters or after long droughts. The 5-0 in 1947–48 wasn’t followed by sustained dominance — Real bounced back within a decade. The pattern suggests Atlético peaks for specific moments rather than across seasons.

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid last 10 matches

Looking at the last decade of the rivalry, Real Madrid has dominated in the Champions League while LaLiga fixtures show more balance. Since 2003, Real won 33 of 71 games against Atlético, with Atlético winning 14 and Real scoring 113 goals versus Atlético’s 74.

Last 5 matches

  • March 4, 2025: Real Madrid 2–1 Atleti (LaLiga)
  • March 12, 2025: Atleti 1–0 Real (2–4 pens) — UCL quarter-final second leg
  • Prior encounters show LaLiga swings between narrow Real wins and Atlético draws

Scorecards

The recent encounters between these sides have produced tightly contested scorelines, with penalty shootouts deciding at least two of the last five meetings.

Date Competition Score Outcome
04/03/2025 LaLiga Real 2–1 Atleti Real win
12/03/2025 UCL Atleti 1–0 Real (2–4 pens) Atleti win (pens)
22/03/2026 LaLiga TBD Scheduled
Why this matters

The 2025 UCL penalty shootout is a reminder that Atlético can beat Real when it matters most, even if the overall record stays lopsided. For fans, that’s the entire appeal of the Madrid Derby.

Why was Valverde sent off?

Federico Valverde was shown a red card in a derby fixture, resulting in a one-match ban. The incident added to a pattern of disciplinary controversies that have peppered recent Madrid Derbies.

Red card details

  • Valverde received his marching orders during a high-tension derby match
  • The red card triggered immediate suspension proceedings

Ban consequences

  • Valverde missed the next fixture as a direct result
  • The absence weakened Real’s midfield against Atlético’s pressing game
The catch

Valverde’s red card reflects the emotional temperature of the rivalry. Players who can keep their composure in a Madrid Derby have a tangible edge — the stakes are simply higher than in regular league matches.

Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid timeline penalties

Penalty shootouts have become the cruelest theatre of the Madrid Derby. Atlético and Real have met in shootouts at the highest level, with the outcomes decided by the narrowest margins.

Penalty shootout history

  • 2016 UCL Final: Real Madrid 5–3 on penalties after 1–1 draw — Sergio Ramos converted the winning spot-kick (UEFA Official match record)
  • 2025 UCL quarter-final: Atleti 1–0 Real (2–4 pens) — Atlético won the tie but lost the shootout 4–2

Recent pens

  • March 12, 2025: No goals in 90 minutes — the tie was settled entirely in the shootout
  • Real converted 4 of 4 penalties; Atlético managed 2 of 4

Upsides

  • 305 meetings show genuine, sustained rivalry
  • Atlético has 76 wins — not a one-sided story
  • UCL knockouts show both teams can compete at the highest level

Downsides

  • Real’s 156 wins vs 76 creates significant imbalance
  • Goal difference (530–388) reflects resource gaps
  • Red cards and disciplinary issues plague key fixtures

Four UCL finals, two penalty shootouts, and three goals scored in championship matches — the Madrid Derby’s Champions League chapter is disproportionately dramatic compared to the rivalry’s regular-season games.

When examining the full timeline of major encounters, the pattern shows Real Madrid converting crucial penalty situations while Atlético has repeatedly fallen at the final hurdle in shootout scenarios.

Period Event Result
1947–48 La Liga Atlético 5–0 Real Atleti win
1958–59 La Liga Real 5–0 Atlético Real win
2014 UCL Final Real 4–1 Atlético Real win
2016 UCL Final Real 1–1 Atlético (5–3 pens) Real win
04/03/2025 LaLiga clash Real 2–1 Atleti
12/03/2025 UCL quarter-final Atleti 1–0 Real (2–4 pens)

Related reading: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Timeline: IPL Head-to-Head

Additional sources

m.aiscore.com, uefa.com

Frequently asked questions

Is Real Madrid older than Atlético Madrid?

Yes. Real Madrid was founded in 1902, while Atlético Madrid traces its roots to 1903. The first recorded match between the two was on February 28, 1904, a 4-0 friendly win for Real.

Did Diego Simeone win the UCL?

No. Diego Simeone managed Atlético in two UEFA Champions League finals: 2014 and 2016. Both ended in defeats to Real Madrid, including a penalty shootout loss in 2016.

Who owns Atletico Madrid?

Atlético Madrid is owned by a consortium led by Israeli businessman Idan Ofera, with Enrique Cerezo serving as president. The club has undergone significant ownership changes since the early 2000s.

Why is 66 not allowed in La Liga?

The number 66 has not been formally banned in La Liga. This question may stem from confusion about squad number rules, which vary by competition and club registration windows.

What is Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid 7-3 scorecard?

Real Madrid won 7–3 against Atlético Madrid in a high-scoring encounter. The exact date and competition for this fixture varies by source, but it represents one of the most lopsided modern results in the rivalry.

Who has never lost against Real Madrid?

No player or team has an unbeaten record across all matches. However, certain goalkeepers have impressive derby records, and specific players have avoided defeat in their direct confrontations.

Why did Alvarez’s penalty not count?

In the March 12, 2025 UCL shootout, Atlético’s Julian Alvarez had a penalty saved or missed, contributing to the 2–4 shootout result despite Atlético winning the tie 1–0 on aggregate.

The Madrid Derby’s real story is not in the overall records — it’s in the outliers. The 5-0 thrashings, the 93rd-minute equalisers, the penalty shootouts decided by single kicks. For anyone watching the next clash on March 22, 2026, the expectation is clear: expect the unexpected, because this rivalry has never followed a script.


Owen Ethan Campbell Foster

About the author

Owen Ethan Campbell Foster

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.