Atlético de Madrid has thrown away a good part of the advantage they had at the head of the Santander League after losing, for the first time this season at home, against Levante (0-2), a rival that becomes his ‘black beast’ after a week in which he has snatched four points and all his confidence before taking on Chelsea in the ‘Champions’.
Everything was going smoothly for an Atleti that has complicated life against the most unexpected rival. First it was the tie in Valencia, postponed for the first day, and this Saturday came the last straw for Simeone’s men. Although it is true, the colchoneros did not deserve to lose, especially due to their great performance in the second half, in which they enjoyed up to five very clear occasions.
However, the coin came out cross despite the red-and-white insistence and the offensive disposition of ‘Cholo’, who ended the game overturned in the granota area. The fault was the aim, an excellent Dani Cárdenas under the sticks – it was his second game as a starter in LaLiga – and, of course, José Luis Morales, who did not miss his appointment with the goal.
The ‘Commander’ wasted a counterattack at seven minutes, but did not miss the opportunity to get a slice after half an hour after Kondogbia’s indecision in a punt. The veteran Levante player was fortunate that his shot was deflected by Felipe and Mario Hermoso, making Oblak’s save impossible.
With the goal and the mood slump – Atleti added 7 matches in a row, conceding their worst streak in a decade – the rojiblancos didn’t wake up until the second muitad, but that was when they became a real gale. The clearest came with a foul by Luis Suárez that ended in the wood at the edge of game time. A minute later Joao Félix had two very obvious ones.
In the first he could not hole out and in the second he ran into Cárdenas’s ankle. Atlético went on and on without finding the award it deserved, even seeing Correa’s goal being annulled for alleged lack of Luis Suárez. Levante decided to shrink, become strong in defense and breathe against such a display of Simeone’s men.
INSISTENCE WITHOUT PRIZE
Dembélé made his debut after the negative PCR of hours before and gave more depth to an Atleti that was emptied as if Chelsea did not exist this Tuesday. But it did not matter because – after two new occasions and with Oblak looking for the auction – the second of the Blaugranas arrived and the sentence of the afternoon. A goal from De Frutos almost from midfield without the Slovenian under the sticks.
The mattresses turned upside down and in that installment they ended up giving away another three points that drive the championship crazy. Second defeat, first at home and the possibility of seeing how Real Madrid and FC Barcelona remain within three points if they win their pending matches. There is a League and the person responsible is Levante.
DATA SHEET.
– RESULT: ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 0 – LEVANTE, 2 (0-1, at halftime).
