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Liga de España: Atlético de Madrid stumbled and gave hope to Real Madrid and Barcelona

2021-02-20T18:13:37.893Z


Simeone's team fell 2-0 at home to Levante and lost an 11-game unbeaten run. His pursuers could be three and six points behind.


02/20/2021 2:27 PM

  • Clarín.com

  • sports

Updated 02/20/2021 2:36 PM

What seemed like a nonstop, cruising-speed flight by Atlético de Madrid to the Spanish La Liga title is entering a zone of turbulence that returns some of the lost excitement and uncertainty to the tournament.

The team led by Diego Simeone lost this Saturday 2-0 at home against Levante and rekindled the hopes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​their closest pursuers.

The teams of Simeone and Paco López had seen each other just three days ago, when they had played a duel that had been pending for the second date of the League.

At the Ciutat de Valencia stadium, Atleti had paid dearly for their inaccuracy in the last meters and had had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

This time, in the Wanda Metropolitano, the Madrid cast, which had Ángel Correa as the starter, paid even more dearly for his inattentions in the background and his lack of aim against a rival who raised a very intelligent game and won a major prize of your excursion to the capital.

An error in a start from the Frenchman Geoffrey Kondogbia and a deflection in the Brazilian Felipe allowed captain José Luis Morales to put Levante ahead in the first half in which the local played very poorly and practically did not finish on goal.

1-0 Raise.

Morales opens the score vs Atlético Madrid.

😱 pic.twitter.com/NkOJWIXeRt

- Fcb_century➐ (@Fcb_century) February 20, 2021

Much more determined and energetic Atlético returned after the break and did much more than in the first chapter to stay with at least one point.

He tried in every way, but repeatedly collided with the safety of goalkeeper Dani Cárdenas.

When the goalkeeper failed, fortune helped: a precious free kick by Luis Suárez crashed into the right post.

The Uruguayan, top scorer of the tournament with 16 goals, added his third game without shouting.

Already in the fourth minute added and with the entire Atlético team turned on the attack (including goalkeeper Jan Oblak), Jorge De Frutos converted the second into a counterattack and gave final form to Levante's first away victory against Atlético after a draw and 12 defeats.

#AtletiLevante


The second of Levante!

(0-2) 🚀🤩


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Follow me at @goalmaster_ to don't miss a goal ✅ pic.twitter.com/tXTqQRfMEI

- _____GOAAL099_____ (@ goaal099) February 20, 2021

In this way, the Madrid team fell in the League after 11 games.

In any case, the decrease in performance and the impact on the results had already been felt: of the last 12 points in dispute, he barely got 5.

And while he still stands first and with an advantage, his pursuers are excited.

Simeone's team has 55 points and leads by 6 to Real Madrid, which will later visit Valladolid, and by 9 to Barcelona, ​​which on Sunday will host Cádiz.

This setback for Atlético occurred just three days before the match that will be played on Tuesday against Chelsea at the Arena Naţională in Bucharest for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, another of the goals that Madrid people dream of.

In another match on the 24th date of the League, Elche, already without Jorge Almirón on the bench, defeated Eibar for 1 year at home with a goal from Dani Calvo in a key match in the fight for permanence.

With this victory, the team that featured Iván Marcone, Emiliano Rigoni, Guido Carrillo and Lucas Boyé left the relegation zone and sent their loser there.

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Source: clarin

All news articles on 2021-02-20

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