Confident and playing well, Atletico seemed poised for a strong run in the Champions League while also staying firmly in contention for the La Liga title. However, two heartbreaking home defeats changed the outlook completely.
First came the penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 last Wednesday. Then, just four days later, Atletico suffered a crushing 4-2 defeat to Barcelona in La Liga—despite leading 2-0 midway through the second half.
Simeone Searching for Answers
Head coach Diego Simeone now faces the challenge of getting his team back on track for the remainder of the season.
“What can we do?” Simeone said. “On Wednesday, we go back to training with the same motivation, the same spirit, and accepting that it is what it is.”
Though Simeone refuses to concede the La Liga title race, Sunday’s loss dealt a significant blow. Atletico now trails both Real Madrid and Barcelona by four points. With Barcelona holding a game in hand, the gap could widen to seven.
“Barcelona has an important advantage,” Simeone admitted. “We have to be realistic, but we will keep going match by match until the end.”
Late Collapse Against Barcelona
Atletico looked in control at the Metropolitano Stadium, but Barcelona stunned them with two quick goals in the 72nd and 78th minutes before sealing the victory with two more in stoppage time.
Similarly, against Real Madrid in the Champions League, Atletico appeared poised to finally break their long-standing struggles against their city rivals. However, despite playing better for most of the tie, they fell short in the penalty shootout. A rare double touch by Julián Álvarez on his spot-kick led to yet another painful elimination.
Simeone Reflects on Costly Mistakes
Simeone acknowledged luck played a role in the defeats but also stressed the need for his team to be more decisive at crucial moments. He took personal responsibility for the Barcelona loss, admitting he should have made a key substitution earlier.
“When we went up 2-0, I should have brought in [José María] Giménez sooner, before they restarted the match,” Simeone said. “But they restarted, scored, and then came the second goal.”
Despite the setbacks, Simeone defended his players. “They have given everything, they have always competed, and the fans have recognized that,” he said.
What’s Next for Atletico?
After the international break, Atletico will visit Espanyol before hosting Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. The teams played out a thrilling 4-4 draw in the first leg, with Atletico mounting a late comeback from 4-2 down.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid holds a 1-0 advantage over Real Sociedad in the other semifinal, as Atletico aims to win the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2013—one of Simeone’s earliest triumphs at the club.