Atletico Madrid’s remarkable 15-game winning streak in La Liga abruptly stopped on Saturday as they suffered a stunning 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Leganes.
Matija Nastasic’s second-half header secured the upset, while Antoine Griezmann missed a crucial late penalty that could have salvaged a point for Diego Simeone’s side.
La Liga: Atletico, who entered the game with momentum and a six-point lead at the top of the table, struggled to impose themselves. Their attacking efforts saw Julian Alvarez hit the woodwork and Griezmann strike the post, but Leganes’ resilient defense and a standout performance from goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic kept them at bay.
Nastasic broke the deadlock early in the second half, heading home from a corner to give Leganes the lead. Atletico’s frustration grew as the hosts defended resolutely, conceding only a contentious 90th-minute penalty for a handball by Sergio Gonzalez.
La Liga: Griezmann, however, dragged the spot-kick wide, leaving Atletico with their second defeat of the season.
Speaking after the match, Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak acknowledged the team’s lackluster performance:
“We didn’t bring enough energy today. After winning 15 games, we lost this one, but we’ll keep fighting. The league is long, and there’s still a lot to play for.”
For Leganes, this marked another giant-killing moment, having also beaten Barcelona in December. Dmitrovic credited their success to hard work:
“What we did against Barca and Atletico, we have to repeat in other games. It’s about effort, desire, and preparation.”
Atletico’s lead at the top of LaLiga is now at risk, with Real Madrid and Barcelona poised to capitalize. The Rojiblancos will also need to regroup quickly as they face Bayer Leverkusen in a critical Champions League match on Tuesday.