Real Madrid emerged victorious in a thrilling La Liga showdown against Atletico Madrid, clinching a 2-1 win at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday. The win moves Real Madrid up to second place in the league standings, just three points behind league leaders Barcelona.

The match got off to a tense start with both teams creating chances, but it was Real Madrid who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute through a stunning strike from Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that sailed past Atletico's goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, and into the top corner of the net.

Atletico fought back and equalized in the 25th minute through Antoine Griezmann, who scored his first goal for the club since returning on loan from Barcelona. The French forward pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired a low shot that beat Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.

The second half was a tense affair, with both teams creating chances but struggling to convert them. However, it was Real Madrid who struck the decisive blow in the 75th minute when Dani Carvajal scored the winning goal. The right-back latched onto a through ball from Karim Benzema and calmly slotted the ball past Oblak to seal the win for Real Madrid.

The victory is a huge boost for Real Madrid's title hopes, as they have now closed the gap on Barcelona at the top of the table. It also marks a significant milestone for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has now won his 100th game in charge of the club.

Speaking after the match, Ancelotti praised his team's performance and said he was pleased with the way they had bounced back from their recent defeat against Valencia. "It was a very important win for us, against a very strong team," he said. "I'm very happy with the way we played and the spirit we showed. We needed this win to stay in the title race and we got it."

Real Madrid will now turn their attention to their upcoming Champions League clash against Atalanta, where they will be looking to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.