Julián Álvarez was the star as Atlético Madrid came from behind to rout unbeaten derby rivals Real Madrid 5-2 on Saturday.

Robin Le Normand had headed the hosts into a 14th-minute lead at the Metropolitano, but goals from Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler turned the tables for the leaders.

However, Alexander Sørloth's equaliser in first-half stoppage time set the stage for Álvarez to convert 51st-minute penalty and then beat Thibaut Courtois with a free-kick 12 minutes later before substitute Antoine Griezmann completed the job.

Atlético, who started the day a full nine points adrift of their neighbours after just six games, set off in determined fashion and might have taken an early lead when striker Sørloth burst clear, only to be reeled in by defender Éder Militão before he could do any damage.

Sørloth was denied for a second time inside the opening 11 minutes when he got his head to Pablo Barrios' cross, but Madrid goalkeeper Courtois managed to push his looping effort over the crossbar.

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However, the Belgian was picking the ball out of his net just three minutes later after central defender Le Normand rose between Militao and Aurélien Tchouaméni to head home Giuliano Simeone's cross.

Le Normand might have doubled his tally as the first half approached its halfway point, but this time he could not direct a Nico González delivery on goal.

But the defender found himself in trouble at the other end when Mbappé ran on to Guler's 25th-minute through-ball, and there was nothing he could do to prevent the France international from firing the equaliser past keeper Jan Oblak.

The visitors, who had started poorly, improved significantly in the wake of Mbappé's strike and they went ahead nine minutes before the break when Guler converted Vinícius Júnior's pull-back.

Álvarez hit the woodwork and saw an equaliser ruled out after his cross ended up in the back of the net, but only after coming off Clément Lenglet's hand.

But Atlético were level in stoppage time when Sørloth climbed above Dean Huijsen to head Koke's cross past Courtois.

Álvarez, who scored a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano in midweek, claimed his fourth goal in as many days within six minutes of the restart when, after Guler had felled Gonzalez in the box, he converted the resulting spot-kick despite Courtois going to right way to put Diego Simeone's men ahead once again.

Courtois had to be at his best to prevent Sørloth from extending his side's lead, but he could not keep out Álvarez's 64th-minute free-kick.

Real's misery was complete in stoppage time when Álex Baena slid the ball through for fellow substitute Griezmann to make it 5-2 and ensure the derby spoils remained at the Metropolitano.