Playing at residence and towards the worst group within the Spanish league, Atletico Madrid had the right likelihood to realize some momentum and return to the highest 4.
The defending champion could not benefit from the chance, although, dropping 1-0 Wednesday to a Levante group that got here into the match with just one league win your complete season.
“We performed badly and misplaced an awesome alternative to place ourselves in an excellent place within the league, Atletico coach Diego Simeone mentioned. Now we should work double as exhausting.”
Atletico Madrid’s Stefan Savic, prime, and Levante’s Martin Caceres struggle for the ball throughout a Spanish La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Levante on the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The surprising loss stored Atletico from regaining the ultimate Champions League qualification spot. It stayed fifth, tied on factors with fourth-place Barcelona, which has a recreation in hand. League chief Real Madrid is 15 factors forward.
The match was postponed from the twenty first spherical final month. Atletico could not play then as a result of it confronted Real Sociedad within the spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey in a match postponed due to Atletico’s participation within the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Atletico had received three of its final 5 leagues matches after ending a four-game dropping streak within the competitors.
“We are not giving our best and it’s impossible to win like this,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak mentioned. “We are going by means of a really tough second and now we have to enhance in each facet. We should not enjoying on the stage we must be enjoying. We want to alter or we’re not going to make it to the Champions League.”
Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Lemar, proper, and Levante’s Jorge Miramon struggle for the ball throughout a Spanish La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Levante on the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Levante’s solely different league win this season was 2-0 towards Mallorca final month. The Valencia membership stayed 10 factors from security regardless of Wednesday’ win.
“It’s been a very tough season and a win like this will give us a great boost going forward,” mentioned Levante midfielder Gonzalo Melero, who scored the winner from inside the realm following a breakaway within the 54th minute on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico thought it had equalized deep into stoppage time however Angel Correa’s bicycle-kick objective was disallowed for a foul away from the play.
Diego Simeone’s group hasn’t overwhelmed Levante in 4 straight matches. It had additionally misplaced to Levante at residence in a league recreation final 12 months.
Simeone began with Matheus Cunha and Correa in assault, with Joao Felix and Luis Suarez coming off the bench within the second half however not with the ability to assist the group enhance a lot offensively.
Levante has the league’s worst protection with 50 targets conceded in 24 matches. It had conceded 18 targets in its final six league video games, and 25 in its final eight matches in all competitions.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
