Antoine Griezmann’s 90th-minute penalty miss proved costly as Atletico Madrid’s historic 15-game winning streak came to a shocking halt with a 1-0 defeat against newly-promoted Leganes in La Liga.
For a team riding high atop the La Liga table, this was a day to forget. Atletico Madrid, brimming with confidence after setting a club-record winning streak, stumbled unexpectedly against Leganes, who continue to punch above their weight this season.
The decisive moment came in the 49th minute when Matija Nastasic rose highest to head in a corner, sending the Leganes faithful into raptures. Atletico, renowned for their resilience, pressed hard for an equalizer, with Griezmann and Julián Alvarez both hitting the woodwork in a frustrating first half.
When a VAR review awarded Atletico a penalty in the dying moments for a handball by Sergio González, it seemed the league leaders would salvage a point. But Griezmann’s effort sailed agonizingly wide, leaving the French star holding his head in disbelief.
This defeat, their first since 27th October 2024, opens the door for Real Madrid, just a point behind, to reclaim the top spot with a win over Las Palmas on Sunday. Barcelona, six points adrift, could also narrow the gap if they win their Saturday clash against Getafe.
Leganes, meanwhile, continue to shine in their return to the top flight. After stunning Barcelona earlier in the season, they’ve added another scalp to their growing reputation as giant-killers.
Adding to Atletico’s woes, defenders Javi Galán and Clement Lenglet picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season, ruling them out of next week’s clash with Villarreal.
