Atleti crashes out at Nuevo Mirandilla
Juanmi’s brace denied Simeone’s side from getting the three points in their visit to Cadiz.
The meeting today at the Nuevo Miradilla kicked off with both teams on level terms in the opening stages. Neither side was successful in threatening the opponent's goal. However, the opener came in one of the earliest chances of the match, when Juanmi struck a cross from Sobrino to give the home side the lead. Atleti sought to react through a volley from Memphis after Morata flicked the ball on with his head to him, only for Ledesma to pick up the ball. The break followed after 45 minutes in which Cádiz managed to cause trouble for Atlético.
Atlético Madrid came out with greater determination in the restart to play in the opponent's field: Correa had his first chance after the game resumed, as he tried to find the net with a shot on the turn that Ledesma eventually blocked. After the hour mark, Cádiz doubled their lead as Juanmi seized on a long ball to put it past Oblak. Once again, Los Rojiblancos had to respond. Lino then unleashed a shot at the edge of the six-yard box after an excellent control of the ball, but unsuccessfully in getting the ball on target. A few minutes later, Llorente was close to a header had it not been for a miraculous save by Ledesma that thwarted his efforts. As the minutes slipped away, the momentum that Atleti needed to pull level gradually faded.
The final whistle was blown by the referee in a game in which Simeone's troops failed to take the three points after a tough match. The team's next challenge ahead will be against Inter Milan in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.
