Antoine Griezmann missed a critical late penalty, leading to Atletico Madrid’s unexpected 1-0 defeat against Leganes on Saturday, halting their record streak of 15 consecutive victories in La Liga. Matija Nastasic put Leganes ahead early in the second half, and Griezmann’s missed penalty in the closing stages sealed Atletico’s second league loss of the season.
Despite their strong performance towards the end of 2024, which positioned them above rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona at the season’s midpoint, Atletico’s lackluster performance against Leganes has now jeopardized their lead.
Real Madrid can claim the top spot on Sunday with a win against Las Palmas, while Barcelona aims to reduce their six-point deficit behind Atletico with a later match against Getafe on Saturday.
In the first half, Leganes, currently 15th in the standings, defended tenaciously to prevent Atletico from scoring. Atletico striker Julian Alvarez hit the woodwork and had another shot blocked, with Griezmann also striking the post. For Leganes, Juan Cruz made a rare offensive push, but Atletico’s goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, was quick to thwart his attempt.
Early in the second half, Serbian defender Nastasic headed in the decisive goal for Leganes. The team then comfortably maintained its lead until a controversial moment: Sergio Gonzalez conceded a penalty for a debatable handball. Griezmann, however, failed to capitalize from the spot, sending his shot wide.
In the final moments, substitute Angel Correa nearly equalized for Atletico, but Leganes’ goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic made a courageous save at close range, ensuring a victory for Leganes. This result opens the title race, providing an advantage to Spain’s top clubs in a tightly contested league.
