After El Clásico, the Derbi Madrileño between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid is the most important match in Spanish football. The status of this duel has increased enormously, especially in the last ten years. This is mainly because Atlético became a serious opponent since the arrival of coach Simeone. After a period of fourteen years during which Real has been the absolute ruler in the Derbi Madrileño, Atlético has regularly embarrassed its big neighbour since 2013. The clash between the superstars from Los Blancos and the fighter’s football of the Rojiblancos has turned into a blistering fight. The Estadio Wanda Metropolitano changes in one big cauldron during the dual with Real Madrid and it is therefore always sold out. Fortunately, at Voetbaltravel you will find tickets for the best places, and you are guaranteed to sit next to each other during this heated football derby.
On this page you will find all information to get everything out of your football trip to the derby of Madrid. Here you can find information about:
- The history of the Derbi Madrileño
- The most memorable encounters
- Interesting facts about Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid
- The prize cabinet of Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid
- Estadio Wanda Metropolitano during the Derbi Madrileño
- Where do the Atlético supporters party, eat and drink?
History of the Derbi Madrileño
The rivalry between both Madrilenian clubs has been existing since their founding. Madrid FC, founded in 1902 (in 1920 the name was changed into Real Madrid), played the cup final against Athletic Bilbao in 1903. Bilbao won with 2-0, to the delight of some Madrid students. As admirers of the Basque club the students decided to establish a ‘branch club’ of Athletic Bilbao in the same year. The rivalry only increased in the coming years. The rich Madrid FC nearly consumed all other clubs in Madrid. By means of a ‘merge’, the best players of these clubs were included in their own team. The best players at other Madrilenian clubs were bought up. The only club that was capable of retaining its players was Atlético, thanks to the financial aid of ‘older’ Athletic Bilbao. In exchange for that, Bilbao ‘borrowed’ talented players from Atlético.
During these years, the social background played a big role as well. Real Madrid was connected to the higher class. Atlético was the last remaining Madrilenian club who turned against the establishment in Madrid. Many football fans from the worker’s class defected to Atlético because of their hatred of the regime. This was the birth of the rivalry. This contradiction is now largely obsolete. Both clubs have supporters from all walks of life.
The rivalry has clearly increased in the last ten years. This is mainly due to the successes of Atlético under coach Diego Simeone. New successes came with players like Diego Forlán, Sergio Aguero and Falcao. Simeone proved to be able to make Atlético a worldwide top club. After a long period in which Real Madrid reigned, the Derbi Madrileño has returned to its former glory since 2013 as one of Europe’s most important fixtures.
Atlético vs Real: The most memorable encounters
18 January 1997 Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid 1-4
In 1992, Atlético Madrid’s controversial owner, Jesus Gil y Gil, made another idiosyncratic decision. As a cost-saving measure, he closed his own youth academy with one stroke of the pen. “There is no need for such training,” said the president. The young talents of Atlético Madrid were forced to leave. Among them was the 14-year-old Rául González Blanco. The attacker, whose family consisted of fanatical Atlético fans, was forced to register with the youth of Real Madrid. Five years later, Rául returned to the Vicente Calderón stadium, proving his former president wrong. Real Madrid won the Derbi Madrileño 1-4 and Rául scored twice. The striker subsequently became a phenomenon and is still all-time club top scorer at Real and second on the top scorers list for the national team.
7 February 2015 Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid 4 – 0
For fourteen years, Atlético had not been able to win a home game against the great rival. No one remembered the last time. In June 1999, the fans could have cheered for the last time. Real Madrid, with Bodo Illgner being the goalkeepr and Clarence Seedorf as part of the team, was then defeated 3-1. This was followed by a pitch-black period, in which Real Madrid was too strong time and again. The Rojiblancos were even ridiculed. In the Bernabeu, a banner was hung during mutual duels with the Real fans asking for a decent opponent for a worthy derby, instead of a duel against the worthless Atlético. Until Diego Simeone became a trainer and gave the club back its dignity.
Earlier this season, Atlético had already won 1-2 in Santiago Bernabéu. In Estadio Vicente Calderón, Atlético finally settled with the Real complex on this evening. Tiago, Sául, Griezmann and Mandzukíc ensured an unprecedented 4-0 result. They won both the home game and the one in their opponent’s stadium for the first time in 64 years. “We used to be beaten before the match started. Now it is Real that is getting nervous,” reported attacker Gárate, who had played for Atlético for eleven years and had lost to Real for ten years. With the defeat of Real Madrid, FC Barcelona came alongside and eventually grabbed the title. Trainer Ancelotti was then able to pack his bags.
19 November 2016: Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid 0-3
The very last Derbi Madrileño in the Estadio Vicente Calderón ended in a disappointment for Los Colchoneros. Atlético was one point behind their rival and was able to take the lead with a win. In a sold out stadium, however, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the show. With the 39th hat-trick in his career, the Portuguese ensured a 0-3 final score. He immediately became the all-time top scorer of the derby, as he passed Alfredo di Stefano with 17 goals. It was the prelude to a successful season in which Real Madrid finally won the Spanish title after five years.
2019: Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid 7-3
In preparation for the 2019-2020 season, both clubs faced each other in New Jersey. It was listed as a ‘friendly duel’, but of course that cannot be the case with a duel between the sworn rivals. It was the biggest humiliation Real Madrid ever had to endure against the fellow townsman. At halftime it was already 5-0 for Atlético, with three goals from Diego Costa. Shortly after the break, Costa also made it 6-0, but then got involved in a fight with Real player Carvajal. Both got the red card.
Real Madrid, with the new signings Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic in the ranks, could hardly do anything. Atlético ran out to 7-1, after which Benzema and Hernández made the decline a little more bearable. “Atlético was better in everything, that is all there is to say. Fortunately, this was an exhibition game, we have to be ready at the start of the competition”, said a defeated coach Zinedine Zidane. The Royal One recovered and became national champion in 2020.
Interesting facts about Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid
- Atlético have won the Derbi Madrileño in La Liga 24 times. The game ended in a draw 15 times, and Real Madrid won 25 times. The goal difference is also slightly in favour of the Royal One at 123-133.
- Strikingly enough, Atlético is doing a lot better in duels for the Copa del Rey. The Madrid clubs faced each other five times in the final of the cup tournament. Atlético won four of those. Only in 1975 did Real Madrid win by making better use of the penalties.
- Atlético Madrid’s dark period took place from 1999 to 2013, when it failed to beat Real Madrid in as many as 25 matches.
- Of the last ten derbies at home (until the 2021/22) season, Atlético managed to win only one. Five times the game ended in a draw, and Real Madrid won four times. Atlético has not yet won a single classic at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.
- Adelardo Rodríguez played the most derbies for Atlético Madrid. In the sixties and seventies he played at 35 Derbis Madrileñ
- Top scorer in the derby for Atlético Madrid is Paco Campos. For that we have to go back to the 1940s. The striker from the Canary Islands scored twelve times in the duels against the fellow townsman.
- In the 2014-2015 season it was a party for the derby lovers. Atlético and Real faced each other no fewer than eight times that season! This series also put an end to Atlético’s endless series of losses. The club won both matches in La Liga (2-1 and 4-0) and defeated Real in both the Supercoppa (1-0 and 1-1) and the Copa del Rey (2-2 and 2-0). The Royal’s revenge, however, ensued in the last two encounters. In the quarterfinals of the Champions League, Real Madrid managed to pull the longest (0-0, 1-0).
- In 1939, the Spanish Air Force had its own football team, eager to compete at the highest level. That is why Real Madrid was polled for a possible merger. The club refused, because Real did not want to change the club name and logo. Atlético Madrid was in financial trouble and also had a stadium that was completely destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. That’s why it took up the offer. The name was changed to Atlético Aviación de Madrid, and they were given the best players from the army. It was the rescue of the club, and Atlético Aviación became champions of Spain in 1940 and 1941. In 1947, the club was again disengaged from the Air Force and changed its name back to Atlético Madrid.
The prize cabinet of Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid
Both Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid have an exceptionally well-stocked trophy cabinet. Nationally and internationally, the clubs have won just about all the prizes that can be won. But while Atlético has certainly won quite a few cups in the past 15 years, it can of course not compete with its big neighbor. After all, Real Madrid is the most successful club in the world.
Nationally, Real Madrid won its 35th league title in 2022. In contrast, there are 11 league titles for Atlético. The Spanish Cup, the Copa del Rey, was won 19 times by Real Madrid and 10 times by the Rojiblancos. With 12 against 4 Spanish Supercups, Real also has an advantage.
Internationally, Real Madrid is the record holder with 13 Champions League cups in the trophy cabinet. Atlético did not win the Cup with the big ears yet. The club does have the sad record of three lost finals.
However, Real Madrid is not leading everywhere. Where Real won the Europa League twice, Atlético has three cups in the cupboard. And, above all, Atlético Madrid won the European Cup II once, a cup that Real never managed to win. Should Atlético Madrid succeed in winning the Champions League, it will join the illustrious list of clubs that have won all three European cups.
Estadio Wanda Metropolitano during the Derbi Madrileño
Since the 2017-2018 season, the derby has been played in Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico fans prefer to talk about Metropolitano, as Wanda is the name of the Chinese sponsor. With 68.456 seats, Metropolitano is the third largest stadium in Spain after Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabéu. The state-of-the-art football temple is the world’s first 100% LED stadium and is particularly comfortable. Instead of creating as many places as possible, the distance between the rows has been deliberately kept large. As a result, you have quite a lot of space at every seat in the stadium. The view is also great from anywhere; a great improvement compared to the old Estadio Vicente Calderón.
What you should not miss during your visit to the derby is the Paseo de las Leyendas. This is a Walk of Fame outside the stadium, where you can find plaques of all Atlético players who played more than 100 games for the club. What is striking is that plaques of players who made the switch to the hated Real are often destroyed. For example, the Thibaut Courtois plaque is easy to recognise because it is buried under a layer of garbage and plush toy rats. You will also find an airplane at the stadium, donated by the Spanish army. It recalls the merger between the club and the Air Force in the 1940s, which resulted in two national titles for the club.
Practical information
The modern stadium is easy to reach, because metro station ‘Estadio Metropolitano’ is located right next to Atlético’s home base. Metro line 7 takes you there from the centre in about 45 minutes. If you prefer to walk the last bit between the fans, you can also get off at the following points, about 15 minutes walking distance: Las Rosas (line 2), Canillejas (line 5) or Las Musas (line 7).
Stadium Tour Wanda Metropolitano
In addition to visiting the Derbi Madrileño, it is also recommended to participate in a stadium tour. An English-speaking guide will lead you along the changing rooms, press room, players tunnel and the field. After this you can visit the club museum ‘Territorio Atleti’ on your own. In this huge museum you will find all the prizes won, the various club shirts from the history and an overview of the club history. The tour runs several times a day from Tuesday to Sunday. It is recommended to book online in advance. Then you are sure of a spot and pay €22 instead of €24 at the cash register.
Do you want to experience the derby Atlético Madrid – Real Madrid yourself?
Where do the Atlético supporters party, eat and drink?
Naturally you want to get as much of the Spanish derby atmosphere as possible during your football trip in Madrid. Of course you will find them mainly in the vicinity of the stadium. Now Estadio Wanda Metropolitano is not located in the centre, but on the outskirts of the city. Atlético’s home base is easily accessible by metro, because the Estadio Metropolitano stop is located just below the stadium. Still, it is nicer to get off earlier, at Las Musas station for example. From here it is a ten minute walk to the stadium, and you will come across several cafes, tapas bars and takeaways along the way. At the stadium itself, you will find some food carts serving burgers, fries, and sandwiches. At Gate 39 you will find a very popular food truck that serves the famous ‘bocadillo de calamari’ (squid sandwich).
The liveliest spot, however, is the long street, Calle Suecia, 800 meters from the stadium. Here you will find several real Atlético bars. The most popular bars are Espiritú del 96, La Grada and El Estadio.
If you want to eat something more extensive than the standard football bite, then Bar Akelarre (C. de Nicolasa Gómez 104), a kilometer away from the stadium, is the best option. The owner is very welcoming and serves huge portions of tasty tapas for very affordable prices. The interior is also worth a visit, with the many hanging witches and football posters. The owner is also a fan of Real Madrid.
Venue for tributes
Just like Real Madrid, Atlético fans flock to a fountain in the city when they win a title or cup. This beautiful Fuente de Neptuno (Fountain of Neptune) is located in the centre of Madrid, right next to Retiro Park.