Vinícius scores twice to lead Real Madrid to a pulsating 3-2 win over Atletico in La Liga

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Vinícius Júnior scored twice to lead 10-man Real Madrid to a pulsating 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid and keep in touch with La Liga leader Barcelona on Sunday.

Vinícius converted a penalty in the 52nd minute to cancel out Ademola Lookman’s first-half opener before the Brazil forward later grabbed the winner with a curling strike in the 72nd.

Surprisingly, the goals were Vinícius’ first against Atletico in La Liga after 12 scoreless derbies. He had scored once before against Atletico in the Copa del Rey.

Madrid had to hold on for the last 12 minutes when Federico Valverde, who had scored to make it 2-1 before Nahuel Molina leveled for Atletico, got a direct red card for a nasty-looking tackle on Alex Baena.

The sending off almost cost Madrid when Julian Álvarez got free and hit the post with 10 minutes to play.

But Álvaro Arbeloa’s team saw out the final minutes to ensure second-place Madrid stayed within four points of Barcelona with nine games remaining.

Vinícius decides the derby

Lookman made it five goals since joining Atletico from Atalanta in the winter transfer window when Giuliano Simeone used an exquisite touch of the side of his boot to leave the Nigeria striker free to score in the 33rd.

Madrid had to wait until after the break to quickly turn things around. Vinícius equalized from the spot after Brahim Díaz was fouled in the box by David Hancko. Valverde then won the ball from José Giménez and made it 2-1 in the 55th, extending his league scoring run to three straight games in addition to his recent hat trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Atletico had looked finished but Molina came off the bench to lash in a long strike in the 66th before Vinícius restored Madrid’s advantage for good. He came in from the left flank and curled home the decider as Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal cheered from the VIP section of the Santiago Bernabeu.

Jude Bellingham played the final 15 minutes in his first action since injuring a hamstring in his left leg in February.

Kylian Mbappé went on in the 64th as he works his way back into form following a knee injury.

Neither side had its top goalkeeper between the posts with both out injured. Andriy Lunin started for Madrid in place of Thibaut Courtois, while Juan Musso was in for Atletico’s Jan Oblak.

García’s goalkeeping ensures Barcelona win

Barcelona edged Rayo Vallecano 1-0 at Camp Nou earlier Sunday to keep up its winning form before the international break.

Ronald Araújo headed in the game’s only goal in the 24th from a corner kick, and goalkeeper Joan García’s impressive performance showed why he is most likely heading to the World Cup with Spain.

“It was important to get these three points, even if it wasn’t our best game,” García said. “We needed to win, and now what the others do doesn’t depend on us.”

García saved a shot by Carlos Martín in the game’s opening minute, blocked Unai López’s header early in the second half and got just enough on a low strike from Jorge de Frutos in the final moments to push it wide.

“This is why we bought him,” coach Hansi Flick said about García. Barcelona paid crosstown rival Espanyol 25 million euros (now US$28.9 million) for García last summer.

García was included in Spain’s squad for the first time on Friday ahead of two friendly matches which will serve as warmups for this summer’s World Cup.

Araújo ‘feeling good’ after mental health break

Araújo stepped away from soccer from last November to early January because of what he said was a bout of depression caused by a longer struggle with anxiety. Since his return, the Uruguay defender has had to fill in where needed, mostly as a substitute, at centre back or as a right back.

His start against Rayo was his first in La Liga since returning to action following his break to care for his mental health.

“I am feeling good, physically too,” Araújo said after the game where he played in place of injured Jules Koundé.

“I am always here to help the team, whether I play at centre back or right back,” Araújo said. “I always felt the support of Barcelona’s fans.”

Stunning comeback for Alaves

Alaves achieved one of the club’s most memorable wins after it erased a three-goal deficit at Celta Vigo to secure a 4-3 victory. The stunning result lifted Alaves out of the relegation zone.

Opta Statistics said that was the first time a team has won on the road after trailing 3-0 in La Liga this century.

“I have never been part of a comeback like this,” said new Alaves coach Quique Sánchez Flores, who was in his second game in charge.

Also, Dani Vivian and Oihan Sancet scored to give Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 win over Real Betis in the first match since Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde said he would leave the Basque club at the end of the season.

Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press