Real Madrid or Atlético: which team has had more red cards in the derbies?

The Atlético Madrid–Real Madrid clash this Sunday will be the third derby of the season, but the 305th overall according to official LaLiga records in competitive play. So many encounters have produced countless storylines – goals, controversy, and, inevitably, dismissals. In their most recent meeting there was just a single yellow card, but past derbies have often ignited far more tension.

In the other two Madrid derbies this season, a total of 16 yellow cards have been shown. Last season’s four encounters produced one sending-off – Marcos Llorente – alongside 10 yellows for Atlético and seven for Madrid. In 2022–23, Atlético finished all three meetings with 10 men after three highly disputed red cards for Ángel Correa, Stefan Savić and Mario Hermoso. The overall balance tilts toward Madrid, but the numbers underline the intensity of these fixtures.

How many red cards Atlético Madrid have received

Across the previous 304 derbies – spanning LaLiga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, Copa de la Liga, regional championships, Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup – Atlético have been shown 43 red cards. It is the opponent against whom they have most frequently been reduced in numbers. Against Barcelona, they have accumulated 37 dismissals, and 28 against Sevilla. No other opponent has seen as many players sent off against Real Madrid either – Barcelona and Sevilla trail with 27 and 26 respectively, according to BDFutbol data.

How many red cards Real Madrid have received

On the other side, Real Madrid have received 35 red cards in matches against Atlético. The most recent came four years ago, when Federico Valverde brought down Álvaro Morata in the 2020 Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Like Atlético, this fixture represents the one in which Madrid have suffered the most dismissals. Against Barcelona, they also have 35 red cards, while Sevilla and Espanyol follow with 23. From Atlético’s perspective, however, Barcelona remain the opponent against whom they have seen the most red cards.

Among current players, only Valverde has been sent off in a derby. Looking further back, Atlético’s record peak came in the 1984 Copa de la Liga, when Balbino, Marina and Arteche were all dismissed. On four other occasions, Atlético have been reduced to nine men. Real Madrid have experienced the same scenario four times as well – including that infamous 1984 match that ended with five red cards.

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