Antoine Griezmann missed a late penalty as La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Leganes on Saturday, ending their record-breaking 15-match winning streak.
Matija Nastasic headed Leganes ahead early in the second half, and despite Atletico’s late pressure, Griezmann dragged his 90th-minute penalty wide, handing Atletico their second league loss of the season.
Diego Simeone’s side, who topped the table at the halfway mark, now face pressure from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real could reclaim the lead with a win over Las Palmas on Sunday, while Barcelona aim to close the six-point gap later on Saturday.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak admitted, “We didn’t get into the game well enough… unfortunately, the streak is over.” However, he insisted the team remains focused on the title race.
Leganes, 15th in the table, frustrated Atletico with a disciplined defensive display. Nastasic’s goal came from a well-taken corner, and despite conceding a controversial late penalty for handball, the hosts held firm.
Griezmann’s missed spot-kick and a final blocked effort from Angel Correa sealed Atletico’s fate. Simeone acknowledged the defeat, saying, “We have to accept that defeat is part of the game and prepare for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen.”
Leganes, who also beat Barcelona in December, credited their success to hard work. Goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic said, “We must replicate this effort in every game.”