The 23-year-old was at the centre of both goals at the Metropolitano on Sunday. He ran onto David Hancko's long ball behind Dean Huijsen, who dragged him back inside the area. Referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias first showed a yellow card, then changed it to a red after a VAR review, and Alejandro Grimaldo scored the penalty in the 53rd minute.
Six minutes later, Giuliano supplied the pass for David's goal, and Antonio Rüdiger's late header for Real Madrid could only make it 2-1.
Speaking to the media after the match, he was asked about the doubts over his place in the starting line-up: “I always look at myself, I try to work as hard as I can for Atlético. I dedicate 24 hours a day to being in the best possible shape to help the team.
"I'm intense about trying to improve, about improving technically and in the qualities I don't have. Always with the humility of keeping my feet on the ground, nobody is going to give me anything.”
Asked about the focus on him being the coach's son, he said: “I also put myself in people's place, as long as the criticism is constructive... I know I have a lot to improve technically, my movements, my left foot, my shot from outside the area... to contribute to the group when it needs me and be able to give 110%.”
Asked what playing for Atletico Madrid means in a derby, he said: “Ever since I was very small, watching Atlético in so many matches, so many important derbies... it is a way in which I feel these matches. It is my way of being or living, I try to give the maximum against any opponent, to empty myself completely as any player or supporter would if they had this opportunity.”
The referee became the story after the final whistle. Real Madrid coach José Mourinho brought two photographs to his press conference and argued that Cristian Romero and Kang-in Lee should both have been sent off in the first half.
Giuliano declined to join the argument“I have a lot of respect for referees. They are people, sometimes they get it right and other times they get it wrong. If they took that decision they saw it that way. I respect referees a lot because first they are people.”
He said the same when asked about the noise around the officials: “We always focus on ourselves, we don't consume anything from the outside. That is news for you. We work to improve as a group.”
On the team's approach, he said: “You know the coach. He goes match by match. They are three important points but we have to improve as a group. Keep improving but we are happy with the win.”