In a stunning turn of events, Atlético Madrid’s record-breaking 15-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt on Saturday with a shocking 1-0 defeat at the hands of lowly local rivals Leganes. The loss, which manager Diego Simeone attributed to wasted chances despite Atlético’s dominance in possession and attacking opportunities, leaves the La Liga leaders just one point ahead of second-place Real Madrid.
Atlético’s Missed Opportunities Cost Them Dearly
Simeone lamented his side’s inability to convert their numerous chances, hitting the woodwork three times and missing a late penalty through Antoine Griezmann. Despite controlling 65% of possession and taking twice as many shots as Leganes, Atlético failed to find the back of the net.
The team generated enough situations to have had a different scoreline. We started with a lot of energy, with key plays in which we could have found the goal.
– Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid manager
La Liga Title Race Heats Up
The unexpected slip-up from Atlético blows the La Liga title race wide open, with Real Madrid poised to overtake their city rivals should they defeat Las Palmas on Sunday. Barcelona also have the opportunity to close the gap to just three points with a win over Getafe later on Saturday.
- Atlético Madrid: 44 points
- Real Madrid: 43 points (game in hand)
- Barcelona: 38 points (game in hand)
Elsewhere in Europe: Bayern and PSG Prevail
In Germany, Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich maintained their seven-point lead over second-place Bayer Leverkusen with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Wolfsburg. Leon Goretzka scored in each half, while Leroy Sané hit the crossbar early on. Wolfsburg fought back twice through Mohamed Amoura but ultimately fell short.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain kept their comfortable margin at the top of Ligue 1 intact thanks to a late winner from Bradley Barcola in a 2-1 triumph over Lens. The strike, set up brilliantly by substitute Tiago Tomas, sends PSG 10 points clear of second-place Marseille ahead of their match against Strasbourg on Sunday.
Key Takeaways
- Atlético Madrid’s historic winning run ends in shocking fashion
- Wasted chances cost Simeone’s men despite dominating Leganes
- La Liga title race blown wide open with Real Madrid and Barcelona ready to capitalize
- Bayern Munich and PSG maintain leads in Bundesliga and Ligue 1 respectively
As the European football season enters its crucial stages, the unpredictable nature of the sport has once again been underscored by Atlético Madrid’s stunning setback against Leganes. With the La Liga title race now more competitive than ever and heavyweights Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain continuing to set the pace in their respective leagues, fans can expect plenty more twists and turns before the campaign concludes.
