Atletico Madrid thrash Real Madrid 5-2 in thrilling La Liga derby with Julian Alvarez scoring twice

Executive Summary

On September 27, 2025, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Atletico Madrid staged a remarkable comeback to defeat city rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a highly charged La Liga derby. Despite Real Madrid taking an early lead with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guller, Atletico fought back with goals from Robin Le Normand, Alexander Sorloth, and a brace from Julian Alvarez, including a penalty and a sublime free kick. Substitute Antoine Griezmann sealed the victory with a late goal. This defeat marked Real Madrid's first loss of the season, halting their perfect start under coach Xabi Alonso. The victory lifted Atletico to fourth place in the league standings with 12 points, while Real Madrid remained top with 18 points. Coach Alonso acknowledged his team's poor performance and emphasized the need for improvement and identity building. The match was notable for Alvarez's redemption after his controversial penalty in a previous Champions League loss to Real Madrid. The derby was played before a raucous home crowd, highlighting the intense rivalry between the two Madrid clubs.

Situation

The match began with Atletico Madrid aggressively pressing, resulting in Robin Le Normand scoring a header in the 14th minute. Real Madrid responded with quick counterattacks, with Mbappe equalizing in the 25th minute and Guller putting them ahead in the 36th minute. Atletico regained momentum with Sorloth's header in stoppage time before halftime. Early in the second half, Alvarez converted a penalty awarded after a foul on Nico Gonzalez, shifting the lead to Atletico. Alvarez then extended the lead with a precise free kick in the 64th minute. In added time, Griezmann's counterattack goal sealed the emphatic win. Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso admitted the team was poor in all aspects and recognized the need for analysis and improvement. The game disrupted Real Madrid's unbeaten run and showcased Atletico's resilience and tactical effectiveness under Diego Simeone.

International Impact

The derby's result reverberated across European football, signaling a challenge to Real Madrid's dominance in La Liga and raising the profile of Atletico Madrid as serious title contenders. The defeat prompted discussions on Real Madrid's strategy and squad depth. Xabi Alonso's comments about building an identity reflect ongoing transitions in top European clubs. The match attracted global attention from fans and media, emphasizing the significance of city derbies in football culture.

Decision Maker Perspectives

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid Coach: Admitted the team deserved to lose due to poor performance and emphasized the need to analyze and improve to build a stronger team identity.

Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid Coach: Led the team to a significant victory, demonstrating effective tactics and motivating players to overcome a deficit against their city rivals.

Source Perspectives

Al Jazeera: Provided detailed coverage of the match highlighting key moments, player performances, and the significance of the result in the La Liga context.

Africa's Debt Paradox: Why Borrowing Has Not Delivered Growth

Executive Summary

Published on September 27, 2025, this in-depth analysis by Okelue David Ugwunta explores the complex paradox facing Africa: despite being rich in natural resources and attracting financial inflows, many African countries remain fiscally distressed with mounting debt burdens that have not translated into sustainable economic growth. The article contrasts Africa's experience with countries like Rwanda, South Korea, Singapore, and China, which have effectively used debt for transformative development through disciplined investment, strong institutions, and long-term planning. It highlights how African borrowing has often been reactive, fragmented, and consumption-driven, with weak governance and corruption undermining fiscal space and growth potential. The piece underscores the need for fiscal discipline, improved domestic revenue mobilization, strategic investment in productivity-enhancing projects, and institutional strengthening to break the cycle of debt without growth. Rwanda is presented as an outlier with a relatively successful debt strategy aligned with development goals. The article calls for systemic reforms to turn liabilities into inclusive growth and lasting prosperity for Africa.

Situation

Africa's debt-to-GDP ratios have surged over the past 15 years, with Sub-Saharan Africa's median reaching 60% in 2025, doubling since 2010. Countries like Ghana and Nigeria face high debt servicing costs that consume large portions of revenue, limiting funds for health, education, and infrastructure. External borrowing, often from Eurobonds and China, dominates, while domestic debt markets remain shallow. The continent suffers from power shortages, food insecurity, and illicit financial flows exceeding $89 billion annually. The Debt Productivity Index (DPI) shows declining productivity in many African countries despite rising debt, contrasting with positive DPI trends in Rwanda and select Asian economies. The article critiques Africa's borrowing patterns as poorly aligned with growth and calls for reforms including fiscal transparency, tax reform, strategic investment, and governance improvements. It emphasizes that borrowing must be a deliberate development tool rather than a reactive deficit plug.

International Impact

Africa's debt challenges have global implications, affecting international financial markets, development aid, and geopolitical relations, especially with creditor nations like China. The article references international credit rating downgrades and the need for coordinated debt restructuring and sustainable financing approaches. Lessons from Asia's development models are highlighted as potential blueprints for African countries. The debt situation influences foreign investment decisions and international cooperation frameworks. The analysis encourages global stakeholders to support Africa's institutional reforms and strategic planning to foster sustainable growth and reduce fiscal vulnerabilities.

Decision Maker Perspectives

African Governments: Face pressures to manage rising debt while needing to invest in development; many struggle with weak institutions and governance challenges.

Rwandan Government: Adopts long-term planning and disciplined borrowing aligned with development goals, serving as a model for debt management in Africa.

International Credit Agencies (e.g., Fitch): Monitor and rate African countries' creditworthiness, influencing borrowing costs and investment flows.

Source Perspectives

Premium Times Nigeria: Provides a comprehensive, analytical perspective on Africa's debt paradox, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms and strategic debt use for development.