LaLiga: Atletico Madrid surprised via lastplace Levante at house
Taking part in at house and in opposition to the worst crew within the Spanish league, Atletico Madrid had the easiest likelihood to realize some momentum and go back to the highest 4.
The protecting champion couldn’t make the most of the chance, despite the fact that, dropping 1-Zero Wednesday to a Levante crew that got here into the fit with just one league win all of the season.
“We performed badly and misplaced an excellent chance to place ourselves in a just right place within the league, Atletico trainer Diego Simeone mentioned. Now we will be able to must paintings double as laborious.”
Atletico Madrid’s Stefan Savic, best, and Levante’s Martín Caceres combat for the ball all the way through a Spanish Los angeles Liga fit between Atletico Madrid and Levante on the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photograph/Manu Fernandez)
The stunning loss saved Atletico from regaining the overall Champions League qualification spot. It stayed 5th, tied on issues with fourth-place Barcelona, which has a recreation in hand. League chief Actual Madrid is 15 issues forward.
The fit was once postponed from the 21st spherical remaining month. Atletico couldn’t play then as it confronted Actual Sociedad within the spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey in a fit postponed as a result of Atletico’s participation within the Spanish Tremendous Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Atletico had received 3 of its remaining 5 leagues fits after enduring a four-game dropping streak within the pageant.
“We aren’t giving our absolute best and it’s unimaginable to win like this,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak mentioned. “We’re going via an overly tough second and we need to toughen in each facet. We aren’t taking part in on the degree we will have to be taking part in. We want to exchange or we aren’t going to make it to the Champions League.”
Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Lemar, proper, and Levante’s Jorge Miramon combat for the ball all the way through a Spanish Los angeles Liga fit between Atletico Madrid and Levante on the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photograph/Manu Fernandez)
Levante’s simplest different league win this season was once 2-Zero in opposition to Mallorca remaining month. The Valencia membership stayed 10 issues from protection regardless of Wednesday’ win.
“It’s been an overly difficult season and a win like this may occasionally give us a super spice up going ahead,” mentioned Levante midfielder Gonzalo Melero, who scored the winner from throughout the space following a breakaway within the 54th minute on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico concept it had equalized deep into stoppage time however Angel Correa’s bicycle-kick purpose was once disallowed for a bad clear of the play.
Diego Simeone’s crew hasn’t crushed Levante in 4 immediately fits. It had additionally misplaced to Levante at house in a league recreation remaining yr.
Simeone began with Matheus Cunha and Correa in assault, with Joao Felix and Luis Suarez coming off the bench in the second one part however now not having the ability to lend a hand the crew toughen a lot offensively.
Levante has the league’s worst protection with 50 targets conceded in 24 fits. It had conceded 18 targets in its remaining six league video games, and 25 in its remaining 8 fits in all competitions.
