Atletico Madrid Sinks Deeper into the Derby Complex 2025

 

Atletico Madrid, under the guidance of their Argentine coach Diego Simeone, recently concluded their 12th derby against Real Madrid in the first leg of the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The match took place at the Santiago Bernabéu, but unfortunately for the Rojiblancos, they failed to secure a victory, continuing their long winless run at the stadium. Atletico's last triumph at the Bernabéu dates back to February 27, 2016, when they defeated Real Madrid 1-0, with French forward Antoine Griezmann scoring the only goal of the match.

Since that memorable win nearly nine years ago, Atletico Madrid has struggled to replicate that success when visiting their city rivals. In fact, the team has not managed to win any of the subsequent encounters at the Bernabéu, despite their consistent strength in domestic competitions. This includes a notable match during the 2020/2021 season, where Atletico Madrid emerged as La Liga champions under Simeone’s leadership. That particular fixture, however, was played at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium—due to renovations at the Bernabéu—where Atletico was held to a draw and failed to extend their historic win in 2016.

The recent derby, which was the 12th meeting between the two clubs in the Champions League since that 2016 victory, ended in a similar fashion: a 6th win for Real Madrid, alongside 6 draws. Despite Atletico Madrid's strong performances in other competitions, this continued lack of success in their encounters with Real Madrid at their home ground is an issue that has plagued the team for years.

For Atletico Madrid and Simeone, this lingering winless streak at the Bernabéu will undoubtedly be a source of frustration, especially considering their competitive and resilient nature. It raises the question of whether this psychological hurdle might be affecting their performances in one of the most high-stakes fixtures in European football. With the second leg yet to come, Atletico will need to break this curse if they are to progress in the Champions League this season.