Jonathan David scored the winning goal as Atletico Madrid beat crosstown rival Real Madrid 2-1 in La Liga on September 20, the biggest moment yet in the Canadian captain’s fresh start in Spain, according to a report from Canadian Soccer Daily.
David, Canada’s captain and the men’s national team’s all-time leading goalscorer, struck in the 59th minute after right wingback Giuliano Simeone found him unmarked in the penalty area with a low cross. The striker finished with a single touch past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to put Atletico ahead for good.
“To score my first major derby and to win is, I think, is a perfect day,” David said after the match, per Canadian Soccer Daily. “It’s been good. Obviously, I can’t complain. Scoring every game for a striker is always a good feeling.”
He credited the crowd at the Civitas Metropolitano for carrying the team through a tense finish. “The atmosphere was amazing since the warm up through the end of the game,” David said. “The support made the difference for us today.”
Teammate Lee Kang-in, who set up one of David’s recent goals, praised the striker’s form. “He scored a goal and assisted me. He put in a great performance, and we’re very happy,” Kang-in said.
The derby winner capped a hot run for David since he joined Atletico on loan from Juventus, where he struggled to hold a regular starting role under manager Luciano Spalletti. David has scored in three consecutive matches for his new club and added an assist, according to Yahoo Sports. Atletico manager Diego Simeone has pointed to David’s composure in front of goal, crediting his arrival with strengthening the team’s pressing and its ability to transition into attack.
The move gives David, who built his reputation scoring for Lille in France before a difficult stint in Turin, another shot at a starting role fitting his standing as one of Canada’s most productive forwards. Whether Atletico makes the loan permanent will be a storyline to watch as the season continues.
