Two goals at key moments lift Levante to victory (2-0)
The ‘rojiblanco’ squad loses its third consecutive match
Atlético de Madrid were unable to break their poor run and fell to their third consecutive loss by losing to Levante, 2-0. A goal at the beginning of the match and another at the start of the second half were key to giving the home squad the win over Atlético de Madrid. Quique’s lads tried in every way possible, but didn’t have a good day and this loss distances them from the top spots.
Atlético de Madrid were aware that if they wanted to be in European spots at the end of the first half of league play that they had to deliver a message against Levante. The recent losses to Espanyol and Aris had left doubts about the future of the team. It was a match to show what they were capable of. The ‘rojiblanco’ manager, Quique Sánchez Flores, therefore changed up the starting line-up. He went back to Raúl García and Assunçao as starters in the central midfield, but the momentum of the losing streak followed the ‘rojiblancos’, who were unable to win the clash.
The match began in exciting fashion with Atlético seemingly stick in, but on one of the first plays of the game Nano got on the end of a loose ball in the area to head home alone in front of the goal. It was a tough blow of Quique’s men, who had to start over with a deficit on the scoreboard. But that didn’t affect the ‘rojiblanco’ play.
The visitors brushed off the goal and took control of the match. They enjoyed possession of the ball, but were missing the last pass in the final third. They approached Reina’s area with ease, but their attacks died there. Levante, with a one-goal lead, played a very serious match. They fell back into two lines of four, closing down any possible penetration into their area and getting in front of shots from outside the area. However, they didn’t completely give up on attacking and had two clear chances to have increased their lead in the opening 25 minutes.
Atlético continued trying to get the sought-after equalizer, but were unable to unsettle Reina on either corner kicks or during the normal run of play, as they goalkeeper was always well-backed by his defence. Given that this result wasn’t favourable for Atleti’s interests, Quique tried to give his side a boost by sending on Mario Suárez in minute 31, as Assunçao had already received a yellow card and was running the risk of being sent off.
Levante put their steel resolve on display. They didn’t want to make things difficult on themselves and with a simple style and lots of first-touch passes, put the ‘rojiblancos’ under pressure. Xisco Nadal was a dagger on the wing as his few, but almost always dangerous, runs down the flank led to problems for Atlético.
The last three scoring chances of the half would be for the visitors. First, Antonio López struck a shot off a defenders chest. On the ensuing rebound, Forlán unleashed a strong left-footed shot, forcing Reina into making a diving save which flashed wide for a corner. The subsequent corner kick fell to Reyes, who volleyed from outside the area, but the ball went just wide of the post.
After the break, Atlético de Madrid came out looking to fight back. They wanted to repeat their experience from their trip to San Sebastian. They would have to turn around the encounter to earn a victory which would allow them to fight for the top spots in La Liga. The result was identical to that occasion and they had the same amount of time: 45 minutes.
But the re-start didn’t exactly begin as they wanted. The ‘rojiblancos’ weren’t controlling the ball and in minute 48 Caicedo almost increased his team’s lead, but fortunately for the visitors, De Gea made a fine save. The visitors began to appear nervous as they were unable to string together passes and Levante was the side that was creating more danger.
Kun Agüero tried his luck from outside the area in minute 54 to no avail. Levante had possession and also created the better chance. The worst came in minute 58 when Simão took a poor free kick from inside his own half, and Levante stole the ball. A quick strike led to Caicedo firing into the upper corner to give the home team its second goal of the evening.
There were 32 minutes left to be played, but the deficit on the scoreboard and the favourable mental state of Levante made things tough for the ‘rojiblancos’ in their pushes forward. Forlán, in the 68th minute, tried to pull one back after a pass from Kun from the left wing, but his shot sailed high. The minutes ticked down quickly and scoring chances didn’t come. The ‘rojiblancoso’ weren’t even able to get clear-cut chances off set pieces, and they fell to their third loss in-a-row and dropped further behind in the race for the top positions in the league table.
LEVANTE, 2 (Nano and Caicedo); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 0
Levante: Reina; Javi Venta, Ballesteros, Nano, Juanfran; Xavi Torres, Rubén (Robusté, 83’), Pallardo, Juanlu; Xisco Nadal (Larrea, 70’) and Caicedo (Rafa Jordá, 75’).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Godín (Fran Mérida, 82’), Antonio López; Assunçao (Mario, 31’), Raúl García; Simao (Diego Costa, 79’), Reyes; Forlán and Kun Agüero.
Referee: Álvarez Izquierdo. For Levante showed yellow cards to Nano (45’), Rubén (67’), Javi Venta (74’), Xavi Torres (78’) and Robusté (84’); for Atlético de Madrid booked Assunçao (12’), Ujfalusi (17’), Perea (35’), Simao (76’) and Fran Mérida (91’).
Incidents: Ciudad de Valencia. Game corresponding to matchday 14. Around 800 ‘rojiblanco’ suppporters in the stands. 11,804 spectators attended this match.
Goals:
1-0 (2’). Nano heads in on the goal-line after a corner kick.
2-0 (58’). Caicedo scores from outside the area after a ball is stolen from Simao.
Atlético de Madrid were aware that if they wanted to be in European spots at the end of the first half of league play that they had to deliver a message against Levante. The recent losses to Espanyol and Aris had left doubts about the future of the team. It was a match to show what they were capable of. The ‘rojiblanco’ manager, Quique Sánchez Flores, therefore changed up the starting line-up. He went back to Raúl García and Assunçao as starters in the central midfield, but the momentum of the losing streak followed the ‘rojiblancos’, who were unable to win the clash.
The match began in exciting fashion with Atlético seemingly stick in, but on one of the first plays of the game Nano got on the end of a loose ball in the area to head home alone in front of the goal. It was a tough blow of Quique’s men, who had to start over with a deficit on the scoreboard. But that didn’t affect the ‘rojiblanco’ play.
The visitors brushed off the goal and took control of the match. They enjoyed possession of the ball, but were missing the last pass in the final third. They approached Reina’s area with ease, but their attacks died there. Levante, with a one-goal lead, played a very serious match. They fell back into two lines of four, closing down any possible penetration into their area and getting in front of shots from outside the area. However, they didn’t completely give up on attacking and had two clear chances to have increased their lead in the opening 25 minutes.
Atlético continued trying to get the sought-after equalizer, but were unable to unsettle Reina on either corner kicks or during the normal run of play, as they goalkeeper was always well-backed by his defence. Given that this result wasn’t favourable for Atleti’s interests, Quique tried to give his side a boost by sending on Mario Suárez in minute 31, as Assunçao had already received a yellow card and was running the risk of being sent off.
Levante put their steel resolve on display. They didn’t want to make things difficult on themselves and with a simple style and lots of first-touch passes, put the ‘rojiblancos’ under pressure. Xisco Nadal was a dagger on the wing as his few, but almost always dangerous, runs down the flank led to problems for Atlético.
The last three scoring chances of the half would be for the visitors. First, Antonio López struck a shot off a defenders chest. On the ensuing rebound, Forlán unleashed a strong left-footed shot, forcing Reina into making a diving save which flashed wide for a corner. The subsequent corner kick fell to Reyes, who volleyed from outside the area, but the ball went just wide of the post.
After the break, Atlético de Madrid came out looking to fight back. They wanted to repeat their experience from their trip to San Sebastian. They would have to turn around the encounter to earn a victory which would allow them to fight for the top spots in La Liga. The result was identical to that occasion and they had the same amount of time: 45 minutes.
But the re-start didn’t exactly begin as they wanted. The ‘rojiblancos’ weren’t controlling the ball and in minute 48 Caicedo almost increased his team’s lead, but fortunately for the visitors, De Gea made a fine save. The visitors began to appear nervous as they were unable to string together passes and Levante was the side that was creating more danger.
Kun Agüero tried his luck from outside the area in minute 54 to no avail. Levante had possession and also created the better chance. The worst came in minute 58 when Simão took a poor free kick from inside his own half, and Levante stole the ball. A quick strike led to Caicedo firing into the upper corner to give the home team its second goal of the evening.
There were 32 minutes left to be played, but the deficit on the scoreboard and the favourable mental state of Levante made things tough for the ‘rojiblancos’ in their pushes forward. Forlán, in the 68th minute, tried to pull one back after a pass from Kun from the left wing, but his shot sailed high. The minutes ticked down quickly and scoring chances didn’t come. The ‘rojiblancoso’ weren’t even able to get clear-cut chances off set pieces, and they fell to their third loss in-a-row and dropped further behind in the race for the top positions in the league table.
LEVANTE, 2 (Nano and Caicedo); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 0
Levante: Reina; Javi Venta, Ballesteros, Nano, Juanfran; Xavi Torres, Rubén (Robusté, 83’), Pallardo, Juanlu; Xisco Nadal (Larrea, 70’) and Caicedo (Rafa Jordá, 75’).
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Godín (Fran Mérida, 82’), Antonio López; Assunçao (Mario, 31’), Raúl García; Simao (Diego Costa, 79’), Reyes; Forlán and Kun Agüero.
Referee: Álvarez Izquierdo. For Levante showed yellow cards to Nano (45’), Rubén (67’), Javi Venta (74’), Xavi Torres (78’) and Robusté (84’); for Atlético de Madrid booked Assunçao (12’), Ujfalusi (17’), Perea (35’), Simao (76’) and Fran Mérida (91’).
Incidents: Ciudad de Valencia. Game corresponding to matchday 14. Around 800 ‘rojiblanco’ suppporters in the stands. 11,804 spectators attended this match.
Goals:
1-0 (2’). Nano heads in on the goal-line after a corner kick.
2-0 (58’). Caicedo scores from outside the area after a ball is stolen from Simao.
