Staff Reporter.
Atletico Madrid missed the chance to move top of La Liga after suffering their first league defeat of the season at Alaves.
Alaves, who had lost their first five games of the campaign, took an early lead through Victor Laguardia’s header.
Laguardia came to the hosts’ rescue in the second half when he cleared Rodrigo de Paul’s cross-shot off the line.
Mamadou Loum should have doubled the hosts’ lead on the hour but fired over the bar from a good position.
Atletico increased the pressure towards the end of the second half and went close to an equaliser through Angel Correa, whose shot from a tight angle was saved by Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.
Diego Simeone’s side wanted a penalty in second-half stoppage time after the ball appeared to strike the arm of an Alaves defender, but the referee dismissed the visitors’ appeals.
FT #AlavesAtleti 1-0
Laguardia heads @alaveseng to first win of the season! ??#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/xjkheSr5jB
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) September 25, 2021
“We need to improve and ensure that our games are more consistent, because right now they really aren’t,”Simeone said.
“It’s always tough when the opposition closes up shop. We didn’t have the kind of speed or skill needed to undo them.
“The most important thing for us is to improve and grow and I’m confident we’re heading in the right direction with the work we’re doing.”
The result left Simeone’s side second, two points behind leaders Real Madrid, who are in action later on Saturday when they host Villareal.
Other La Liga Results:
Valencia 1 -1 Athletic Club.
Sevilla 2 – 0 Espanyol.