In an unexpected turn of events, Atlético Madrid’s remarkable 15-game winning streak came to an end at Butarque, facing an intractable Leganés defense. After dominating much of the match, the visitors were stymied by the uprights and the heroic performance of goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović, who denied several chances. The first half saw Atlético hit the post three times, a statistic that perfectly illustrates their struggles to find the net. This match was particularly disappointing for Antoine Griezmann, who missed a crucial penalty in the final minutes of the match.
Despite having statistical superiority, Atlético failed to pick up even a single point, marking their second league defeat this season. Leganés, taking advantage of their rare opportunity, opened the scoring with a set piece after the break, leaving Atlético to continue the match against a well-organized defense. Borja Jiménez’s team had already brought down FC Barcelona and eliminated league leaders Almería in the cup, demonstrating their ability to rise to the level of formidable opponents.
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The first half was one of missed chances for Atlético, as attempts from Julián Álvarez, Griezmann and Conor Gallagher were either neutralized by the posts or by the acrobatics of Dmitrović. A saving opportunity appeared in the 87th minute when VAR awarded a penalty for a handball by Sergio González. However, Griezmann’s poorly executed spot-kick missed the target, sealing Atlético’s fate as they struggled to break through the Leganés defense even in the final moments of the match.
-With the absence of injured striker Alexander Sørloth, Atlético lacked an aerial threat, which proved crucial as Leganés changed tactically in the second half, tightening their defensive lines and limiting space. Despite Simeone’s efforts to inject some energy into the team by bringing in young talent Adrián Niño from the reserves, the match continued to elude him. Leganés benefited from a second-half goal from Serbian defender Matija Nastasic, which further destabilized Atlético, leading to anxiety and a lack of composure in front of goal.
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In a match that showcased Atlético’s early dominance and attacking power, this team ultimately succumbed to Leganés’ strategic resilience and set-piece execution. This current phase of the season will serve as a lesson for a team accustomed to comebacks, when they failed to capitalize on their strengths and ended the match without scoring.
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