Atletico Madrid lost at home, in the 23rd round of LaLiga, in the company of Real Betis, with a final score of 0-1, after, a few days ago, the team led by Diego Simeone from the sidelines triumphed “at pace” against the same opponent, far from the Spanish capital. Antony, thanks to a magical goal scored in the first half of the confrontation, made the difference between the two teams, and the “white-greens” handed the group from the “Estadio Metropolitano” its second consecutive defeat recorded in front of its own supporters. The Andalusians also defeated Atletico Madrid for the first time, away, in the domestic championship, since 2011, setting a historic milestone in the Spanish capital.

Atletico Madrid and Real Betis faced off in the 23rd round of LaLiga, just days after the two teams met in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, where the Rojiblancos won with an incredible 5-0 in a match in which Ademola Lookman, on his debut in the Spanish capital, scored and put in a quality performance. The Nigerian footballer played for the first time in front of the “los colchoneros” fans, after being transferred for 35 million euros from Atalanta during this winter’s transfer window.

Diego Simeone was unable to use Johnny Cardoso, Nicolas Gonzalez and Pablo Barrios in this match, the latter of the aforementioned players suffering an injury in the duel that was played last week in the second most important domestic competition. Manuel Pellegrini did not have Sofyan Amrabat, Chimy Avila, Hector Bellerin, Cucho Hernandez, Isco and Giovani Lo Celso available for this game. In the last round of LaLiga, Atletico Madrid had drawn “white” in Valencia in the company of Levante, and the “white-green” had achieved an in-extremis success at home against Valencia, final score 2-1.

Atletico Madrid was looking to tick off the 11th triumph in a row recorded at home in the domestic championship matches, and Real Betis presented themselves at the time of this clash as a team that had won on foreign soil, most recently, in LaLiga, in November of last year, in the city derby, against Sevilla, final score, 2-0. In the general standings, the “rojiblancos” club was, before the game’s starting whistle, on the last step of the podium, nine points behind Real Madrid and 13 lengths behind FC Barcelona, ​​while the Andalusian group occupied the fifth step, 10 points behind “los colchoneros”.

In the round of the current season in the Spanish championship, Giuliano Simeone and Alex Baena would bring success to the team led from the sidelines by Diego Simeone. In fact, the most recent success of Real Betis against Atletico Madrid, with the band from the “Estadio Metropolitano” as the host team, dates back to 2011, when the 90 minutes would be played at the “Estadio Vicente Calderon”, the former arena of the “rojiblancos”. The hosts had the first chance to score when debutant Rodrigo Mendoza fired a long-range shot just wide of the post.

Ademola Lookman came close to scoring for the first time at the Estadio Metropolitano since signing for Atletico Madrid, but the Nigerian’s shot, after receiving a pass from Julian Alvarez, went just wide of the post, which was defended by Alvaro Valles. Real Betis responded moments later when Cedric Bakambu was excellently played in from deep by Ez Abde, but the former Villareal striker fired a shot towards Jan Oblak, allowing the Slovenian goalkeeper to make a save.

The same passing pattern was repeated in the 16th minute of the match in the Spanish capital, when the Moroccan player of the visitors once again found the ideal central striker, but, after taking over in the future position, Cedric Bakambu finished poorly, so that Real Betis only benefited from a shot from the corner of the field. Then, Julian Alvarez was passed into free space by Ademola Lookman, and the Argentine player’s shot to the short corner was rejected with difficulty by the goalkeeper of the Andalusian team.

The opening of the score came from the foot of Antony, the Brazilian player of Real Betis, who, after receiving a ball about 25 meters away from the opponent’s goal, decided to shoot to the short corner. The ball shook the legs of Atletico Madrid, although Jan Oblak tried to oppose the goal with all his might. From a free kick that was taken from a long distance, Ez Abde sent the ball directly into the grass behind the goal defended by Jan Oblak which was occupied by the “los colchoneros” supporters. Antoine Griezmann, who entered during the confrontation, shot strongly in the 58th minute of the game, but the French footballer’s volley went over the opponent’s goal.

Alex Baena’s corner kick was headed back by Alexander Sorloth, who had entered the pitch at the start of the second half, but Alvaro Valles, the man between the Real Betis goals, blocked the ball. Alexander Sorloth rose the most to head the ball towards the visitors’ goals, but the northerner’s shot was easily saved by the “white-green” goalkeeper. The equalizer was achieved about a quarter of an hour before the end of regular time, when Diego Llorente jumped and headed an unstoppable ball into his own net. Though, the own goal was disallowed due to the fact that the central defender of the away side was touching the ball with his hand.

As a result of this defeat, Atletico Madrid remain behind title rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, but are feeling the pressure from their pursuers in the general standings, Villareal and Real Betis. “Los colchoneros” will play at home in the upcoming duel, in the semi-finals of the “Copa del Rey”, against the “blaugrana”, and then, in LaLiga, they will make a short trip to “Vallecas”, where they will face Rayo Vallecano. Real Betis “remains on the coast” of the “yellow submarine”, at the end of this success, and, in the next stage, the Andalusians will play against those from Real Mallorca.