Vinicius was the difference maker.
Vinicius Junior scored a match-winning double as 10-man Real Madrid hung on to claim a thrilling 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the derby and cut the gap to LaLiga leaders Barcelona back to four points.
Barca beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 earlier on Sunday to stretch the advantage to seven points, and Madrid had to show a lot of resilience to avoid a huge setback in the title race with their arch rivals.
Despite dominating the early going, Madrid fell behind to Ademola Lookman’s 33rd-minute effort, but the deficit was erased seven minutes into the second half by a Vinicius penalty.
Federico Valverde then made it 2-1 before a goal of the season contender from Nahuel Molina brought Atletico level, though his stunning effort would ultimately count for nothing.
Vinicius made it four goals in two games with a fine second, but Madrid were left to hang on after Valverde was controversially sent off 13 minutes from the end of normal time.
Atletico could not find a way through for a third time, though, meaning Madrid claim the derby bragging rights, avenging a 5-2 loss at the Metropolitano earlier in the season with a win that ensures Alvaro Arbeloa’s men can go into the International break still harbouring hopes of catching Barca.
Lookman stuns Bernabeu
Madrid made a rapid start to proceedings, with Dani Carvajal’s volley drawing a fine save from Juan Musso before Federico Valverde surged in from the right and fired against the post with an unerring strike.
The hosts were almost caught cold as Marcos Llorente darted into the box at the end of a neat Atletico move, with Andriy Lunin having to scramble to keep Llorente’s low shot from squriming over the line.
Arbeloa’s men continued to dictate play, but they failed to heed that earlier warning and fell behind as Lookman capped off a superb attack.
Matteo Ruggeri played an excellent pass into the box to find Giuliano Simeone, whose clever flicked teed up the onrushing Lookman to slot under Lunin from close range.
Madrid responded well, with Aurelien Tchouameni heading narrowly wide before Musso spilled a drive from Arda Guler, though he was able to prevent a rebound.
Real Madrid fight back in superb second half
And a deserved leveller came after Brahim Diaz showed quick feet on the byline and was brought down by Hancko, the referee showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot and allowing Vinicius to power home from 12 yards.
The turnaround was then completed as Madrid’s press led Atletico to lose possession, gifting Valverde the chance to surge through one-on-one and poke the ball beyond Musso.
Yet Atletico remained a huge threat, and after Julian Alvarez had curled narrowly over the bar, Molina restored parity with a wonderstrike from 25 yards, finding the top-left corner with a rasping right-footed effort from 25 yards.
Atletico were level for just five minutes, however, Musso left with no chance as Vinicius cut on to his right and bent brilliantly into the bottom-right corner following a sweeping cross-field pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
But Madrid joy was soon turned to fury as Valverde saw red after bringing down Alex Baena from behind, the decision to dismiss their inspirational captain drawing indignant protests from players and manager alike.
Only the woodwork prevented Alvarez from making the most of Valverde’s dismissal as his curler struck the right-hand post, though Atletico were grateful to Musso for keeping the deficit at one as he clawed away an Alexander-Arnold free-kick.
Lunin produced a strong save to deny Alexander Sorloth late on and was equal to an ambitious effort from Baena, and an impressive show of spirit from Madrid was rewarded with a victory that could go on to be viewed as a defining moment in their campaign if they do indeed catch Barca.
