Atlético Madrid lost 2-0 at home to Levante in the Spanish league on Saturday, ending its 11-match unbeaten streak and giving Real Madrid and Barcelona a chance to cut into its lead at the top.
José Luis Morales scored in the 30th minute and Jorge de Frutos added another goal in stoppage time at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, handing Atlético its first league loss since December -- and first at home in more than a year. Diego Simeone’s team has won only one of its last four league matches.
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Atlético Madrid lost 2-0 at home to Levante in the Spanish league on Saturday, ending its 11-match unbeaten streak and giving Real Madrid and Barcelona a chance to cut into its lead at the top.
It was the second consecutive league match between Atlético and Levante. They drew 1-1 on Wednesday in a game postponed from the second round because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Levante, which recently made it to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey for the first time in 86 years, hadn’t won in 14 games at Atlético in the league, with 13 losses and one draw. It had also won at Real Madrid four rounds ago after going winless in its last eight away matches. Levante hadn't won two away matches in a row in the league since 2018.
Morales had the game’s first significant chance in a one-on-one situation in the eighth minute but his shot from inside the area went wide.
Atlético has a tough schedule ahead, hosting Chelsea in the round of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday and playing Villarreal and Real Madrid in its next two Spanish league matches.
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Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez, second left, attempts a head at goal in front of Levante's Ruben Vezo, thirt left, Levante's Rober Pier, center, and Levante's Ruben Rochina, bottom, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)
It stayed six points in front of second-place Madrid, which later Saturday visits relegation-threatened Valladolid seeking its fourth straight league win. Third-place Barcelona, nine points behind Atlético with a game in hand, hosts struggling Cádiz on Sunday.
Levante's Jose Luis Morales, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)
It was the second consecutive league match between Atlético and Levante. They drew 1-1 on Wednesday in a game postponed from the second round because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Atlético had won nine of its last 11 league matches and hadn’t lost since a 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid in December. It had drawn two of its last three games, with setbacks against Levante and Celta Vigo. Atlético was eliminated by third-division club Cornellà in the second round of the Copa del Rey in January.
Atlético was unbeaten at home in the league in 22 matches, since a 1-0 loss to Barcelona in December 2019. It went 23 matches unbeaten at home between 2013 and 2014, when it last won the league.
Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix controls the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)
Levante, which recently made it to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey for the first time in 86 years, hadn’t won in 14 games at Atlético in the league, with 13 losses and one draw. It had also won at Real Madrid four rounds ago after going winless in its last eight away matches. Levante hadn't won two away matches in a row in the league since 2018.
It moved to eighth with Saturday's win, its first in four matches in all competitions.
Morales opened the scoring in the 30th with a shot that was deflected by defender Felipe inside the area to fool goalkeeper Jan Oblak. De Frutos sealed the victory with a shot into an empty net after Oblak went up the other end for a corner in the final minute of stoppage time. It was the seventh straight game in which Atlético conceded a goal, and it has scored in seven consecutive games in all competitions.
Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix, left, is challenged by Levante's Oscar Duarte during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)
Morales had the game’s first significant chance in a one-on-one situation in the eighth minute but his shot from inside the area went wide.
João Félix nearly equalized for the hosts in a breakaway in the 32nd but his shot sailed over the crossbar. Luis Suárez came close with a well-struck curling free kick that hit the post in the 58th. Atlético had a goal by Ángel Correa disallowed two minutes later after a foul by Suárez.
Simeone was able to include new signing Moussa Dembélé in the squad after isolating for COVID-19, with the Frenchman making his Atlético debut in the 73rd. However, Simeone lost José María Giménez because of an injury in the second half. The Uruguay defender was coming off a muscle injury.
Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez, top left, and Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez, top right, jump for the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)
Atlético has a tough schedule ahead, hosting Chelsea in the round of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday and playing Villarreal and Real Madrid in its next two Spanish league matches.
Earlier, Elche beat Eibar 1-0 with a 33rd-minute goal by Dani Calvo in a match between relegation-threatened clubs. Elche stayed just behind Eibar, which is immediately outside the relegation zone.
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Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez, right, takes a free kick during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)
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Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa, right, reacts after a missed scoring opportunity as Levante's goalkeeper Dani Cardenas makes a save during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)
Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez, second left, attempts a head at goal in front of Levante's Ruben Vezo, thirt left, Levante's Rober Pier, center, and Levante's Ruben Rochina, bottom, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)