Jose Gimenez’s early personal objective consigned Atletico Madrid to a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis on Sunday in La Liga. Atletico’s third loss in 5 matches throughout all competitions left Diego Simeone’s facet fourth, trailing league leaders Barcelona by 10 factors after 11 matches. Betis placed on a vibrant show and after surviving a late Atletico onslaught rose to fifth, two factors behind their opponents. “They have been higher than us, that they had extra probabilities, however within the second half the workforce tried. We hit the woodwork twice,” Atletico captain Koke advised Movistar after his workforce’s first league defeat.
“There’s an extended approach to go and we’ll maintain working, keep quiet, work extra in coaching and compete in matches as we have now to, and maintain going.”
Atletico have drawn 5 instances this season, giving up vital floor within the title race already.
“No (I’m not apprehensive), I do know clearly what the trail is, I do know the place we have now to work, I do know that soccer is in regards to the work,” stated Simeone.
“They are truthful winners and we have now to enhance and maintain working as we have at all times completed.”
Betis took the lead within the fourth minute, when Gimenez tried to clear Ez Abde’s cross however hacked the ball into his personal internet.
It was the worst doable begin for Atletico, attempting to bounce again after they threw away the lead in opposition to French facet Lille within the Champions League to lose 3-1 in midweek.
The hosts have been dominant at their Benito Villamarin stadium, creating a number of probabilities with out being unable to transform them to make the sport protected.
Former Barcelona winger Abde fired large when despatched clear via after which struck the crossbar after Vitor Roque backheeled the ball into his path.
The Brazil striker, on mortgage from league leaders Barca, then smashed a shot into the facet netting from a good angle.
Betis thought that they had gained a penalty within the second half, however a VAR evaluation confirmed Atletico’s Javi Galan had kicked the ball earlier than making contact with the stooping Pablo Fornals’ head.
Simeone changed Antoine Griezmann with common super-sub Angel Correa and the Argentine ahead hit the put up with a hooked effort.
Correa then despatched a glancing header in opposition to the crossbar from a free-kick as Atletico got here to life within the remaining levels, however they might not discover an equaliser.
Roque had a objective dominated out for offside on the different finish and Betis confronted seven nervy minutes of stoppage time earlier than they have been in a position to have fun their three factors.
“I feel we had an unimaginable first half. We pressed, we had probabilities, we defended very nicely,” Abde advised Movistar.
“We saved working our socks off till the tip and thank God, we gained.”
On Saturday, Barcelona thrashed champions Real Madrid to maneuver six factors away from their arch-rivals on the prime of La Liga.
Villarreal are third after snatching a late win at Real Valladolid on Saturday, one level above Atletico.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
