Atlético collapses before the bottom team
Simeone’s men fall against Levante and will continue to be out of the Champions League positions
MADRID, 16 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid suffered a new headache when losing (0-1) this Wednesday against Levante, bottom of the Santander League, in a match postponed from matchday 21 that aggravates the crisis of the mattresses, which will continue for another week out of the ‘Champions League’ positions.
Diego Pablo Simeone’s team not only did not find a plan this Wednesday, but ended up locked in a tunnel with no exit. The best of scenarios ended up becoming a very bloody script. The bottom of the League – who had only won one game to date – won the second at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The afternoon was strange from the beginning with Levante’s chances against a timorous Atlético, afraid to come out with the ball from behind and quite obtuse in the final meters. Roger and De Frutos had the best opportunities for the Granota team, which they forgave especially in the second after a one-on-one that Oblak stopped.
The Slovenian goalkeeper was key in preventing the Valencians from taking advantage in the first half, but he could not prevent it in the second half. Melero was in charge of making the Orriols team believe, culminating in a class play with a ball to the right side where the Madrid player appeared to score with his right foot at the first touch.
However, the effervescence did not last long for a Levante that decided to retreat meters before the mattress gale. Alessio Lisci’s team suffered in some phases, but it was more stage fright than real. Atlético only executed one shot between the posts for the five of the Blaugrana team, who also needed VAR to emerge victorious from the Spanish capital.
Referee Munuera Montero awarded a penalty immediately after Levante’s chances after a clear hand from Duarte, but the video corrected the referee’s decision due to a previous offside by Marcos Llorente. The joy in a well in a matter of seconds and to top it off, Levante was emboldened immediately.
Roger tried it with a sensational shot that was saved by Oblak and Malsa also tried his luck with a couple of long volleys. The first went high but the second – from 40 meters – hit the crossbar. Simeone’s men tried to reply with more heart than head and only Lodi, on the side of the net, and Correa, with an annulled Chilean, were close to the tie that never came.
This is Atlético’s second defeat in the league at home and the Granota’s second win of the entire course, a relief although they are still ten points from salvation. Atleti, who have Manchester United on the horizon, visit Osasuna this Saturday from 4:15 p.m.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 0 – LEVANTE, 1 (0-0, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
ATHLETIC OF MADRID: Oblak; Reinildo (Herrera, min.78), Savic, Giménez, Reinildo; Llorente, De Paul (Joao Félix, min.64), Koke (Vrsaljko, min.64), Kondogbia, Lemar (Lodi, min.78); Correa and Cunha (Luis Suárez, min.64).
LEVANTE: Cardenas; Miramón, Cáceres, Róber Pier, Duarte, Son; De Frutos (Morales, min.68), Bardhi (Malsa, min.62), Melero (Coke, min.89), Pepelu (Vukcevic, min.89); Roger (Dani Gómez, min. 68).
–GOAL:
0-1, min.54, Melero.
–REFEREE: Munuera Montero (C.Andaluz). He gave a yellow card to De Paul (min.26), Savic (min.84) and Correa (min.97) at Atlético de Madrid; and Pepelu (min.70), Dani Gómez (min.76), Miramón (min.85) and Son (min.97) in Levante.
–STADIUM: Metropolitan Wanda. 43,456 spectators.