Gonzalo Higuain scored a penalty five minutes into stoppage time as Real Madrid went to the top of La Liga with a 2-1 win over Atletico in a stormy derby in which both sides finished with 10 men.

Portuguese winger Simao thought he had salvaged a point after curling in a 90th-minute free kick to cancel out Ruud van Nistelrooy's opener after only 32 seconds but there was a twist to come. Higuain converted a penalty in the 95th minute at the Vicente Calderon to crush Atletico's spirits before its Champions League match against Liverpool this week. It also continued Atletico's jinx against its city rival, which it has not beaten since 1999.

"It is devastating to concede a goal in the first minute and another one in the 95th," Atletico coach Javier Aguirre admitted.

Real is in Champions League action against Juventus this week and manager Bernd Schuster saluted his team's ability to play to the end.

"We showed throughout that we were capable of scoring and in the end, we did it," Schuster said. "I think it was a fair result, even if it was a penalty in the final minute. That happens in football … "

After only 32 seconds, van Nistelrooy caught Atletico napping with a drilled shot to put Real ahead but the Dutchman's day went sour on 38 minutes when he was red-carded for a late tackle on Maniche.

Eight minutes earlier, Atletico had also been reduced to 10 men when referee Clos Gomez claimed Colombian defender Luis Perea caught Wesley Sneijder with a stray arm.