MADRID — In only a matter of days, certainly one of Atletico Madrid’s most promising seasons became nice disappointment.
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Enjoying nicely and with confidence, Atletico seemed poised for a deep run within the Champions League, and was holding regular on the prime of the Spanish league, in place to struggle for each titles.
Then got here a pair of setbacks, each at residence and in heart-breaking style. First it was a penalty shootout loss to Actual Madrid within the spherical of 16 within the Champions League final Wednesday, and 4 days later a 4-2 defeat in opposition to Barcelona within the Spanish league after Diego Simeone’s group had led 2-0 halfway by way of the second half.
Simeone was left trying to find solutions for the group’s sudden struggles, and on the lookout for methods to place it again on observe for what’s left of the season.
“What can we do?” the pinnacle coach stated. “On Wednesday we get back to training, with the same motivation as always, with the same spirit, and accepting that it is what it is.”
Simeone wasn’t giving up but on the title race within the Spanish league, however Sunday’s loss meant that Atletico fell 4 factors behind each Madrid — which received 2-1 at Villarreal on Saturday — and league chief Barcelona, which has a recreation in hand and may probably improve its hole to Atletico to seven factors.
“Barcelona has an important advantage,” Simeone stated. “We have to be realistic, but we will keep going match by match until the end.”
Atletico seemed in management in opposition to Barcelona on the Metropolitano Stadium. However Barcelona was capable of equalize with objectives six minutes aside within the 72nd and 78th minutes, and acquired the victory with a pair of objectives in stoppage time.
Towards Madrid within the Champions League, Atletico seemed in place to lastly finish its lengthy droop in opposition to its metropolis rival within the competitors, nevertheless it could not come by way of a penalty shootout regardless of taking part in higher throughout most elements of the tie.
Within the shootout, a uncommon double contact by Atletico ahead Julián Álvarez whereas taking his penalty led to one more elimination.
Simeone did not wish to blame his group’s defeats to unhealthy luck, although he acknowledged that it performed an element. He additionally famous his facet wanted to be extra assertive at key factors in matches, particularly when it was taking part in higher and will have sealed victory.
Towards Barcelona, Simeone took some blame by saying that he ought to have made a change faster than he did, including defender José María Giménez sooner into the sport.
“When we went up 2-0, I should have added Giménez earlier, before they restarted the match,” Simeone stated. “But they restarted and scored the first goal, and then came the second.”
Simeone defended his gamers, saying they “have given all of it, they’ve all the time competed and the followers have acknowledged that.”
Atletico visits Espanyol after the worldwide break earlier than internet hosting Barcelona once more within the second leg of the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, a contest Atletico hasn’t received since 2013, not lengthy after Simeone took over.
The groups drew 4-4 in Barcelona within the first match final month, when Atletico was shedding 4-2 till the 84th. Madrid and Actual Sociedad are within the different semifinal, with Madrid having received 1-0 away within the first leg.
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