MADRID, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Julian Alvarez was Atletico Madrid's hero for the second time this week with two goals as his side won the Madrid derby 5-2 at home to Real Madrid to drag Diego Simeone's side back into the La Liga title race and end Real's 100 percent start to the season.

The Argentinean, who scored a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano in midweek, netted a second half penalty and a free kick as Atletico took control at the start of the second half.

Atletico has been accused of being too timid at times this season and perhaps it needed the club's bitter local rivals to spur Diego Simeone's side into action, as they looked to tear into Real Madrid from the start.

Robin le Normand put Atletico ahead in the 14th minute with a powerful header after Giuliano Simeone swung in a cross as Real only half-cleared a corner.

The home players had their tails up, with Giuliano Simeone seeing a ball run away from him when he looked to be in on goal, while Alexander Sorloth was booked as he stretched for a loose ball only to connect with Thibaut Courtois in the Real Madrid goal.

Real Madrid was suffering, but Kylian Mbappe punished a moment of hesitation from Clement Lenglet to find space and score with a low angled shot to make it 1-1.

Vinicius then turned and pulled the ball back for Arda Guler to hit a first-time shot past Jan Oblak to put Real Madrid ahead in the 35th minute.

Atletico's players didn't let their heads drop, and Julian Alvarez was unlucky to see a shot hit the post. Lenglet then had a goal from a corner ruled out for handball, before Sorloth equalized with a header as he got between Real's central defenders to power the ball past Courtois.

Alvarez put Atletico back ahead from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half after Guler's high foot caught Nico Gonzalez in the head as he looked to clear following a corner.

The Argentinean then scored his second of the night in the 64th minute with a stunning free kick over the Real defensive wall to make it 4-2, shortly after Xabi Alonso had brought on Eduardo Camavinga and Franco Mastantuono for Dani Carvajal and Guler.

Real Madrid tried to react and had more of the ball, but failed to create any chances to get back into the game and Antoine Griezmann added to their pain when he slipped home Atletico's fifth goal after a pass from Alex Baena in the dying minutes. ■