Simeone Laments Penalty as Atletico’s Title Hopes Take Another Hit

Atletico Madrid’s LaLiga title ambitions suffered yet another setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Espanyol on Saturday. Head coach Diego Simeone expressed disappointment over a late penalty that allowed Espanyol to equalize, extending Atletico’s winless streak in the league to three matches.

 

The turning point came in the 71st minute when Clement Lenglet fouled Leandro Cabrera in the box. Espanyol’s Javi Puado converted the penalty, leveling the score and shifting the momentum in favor of the home side. Despite a strong first half, Atletico struggled to regain control after the equalizer.

 

Simeone called the draw “fair” but acknowledged the challenges his team has faced recently, including elimination from the Champions League and a 4-2 loss to Barcelona. With Atletico now six points behind leaders Barcelona, Simeone emphasized resilience: “Seasons have ups and downs; we must fight till the end.”

 

Atletico will next face Barcelona in a crucial Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Wednesday, aiming to turn their fortunes around.

 

Source: Reuters