Madrid : Current La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid faced their first defeat in 12 league games when they were beaten 2-0 at home to Levante on Saturday (20 February) at home.
Jose Luis Morales gave the visitors the lead at the half-hour mark when a deflected strike from him just inside the area deceived keeper Jan Oblak, while Jorge de Frutos knocked it into an empty net to double the lead in dying added time preceded by a mistake Oblak had committed himself to contest a corner.
After a below-average game in the first half, Atletico came out fighting in the second but Levante keeper Daniel Cardenas was rock solid, as despite firing 28 shots on goal, 11 of which were on target they could not manage to score. They also hit the post and Angel Correa had his goal ruled out.
With the first league defeat since December Atletico are with 55 points after 23 games and currently second-placed Real Madrid could possibly reduce the gap to three points when they visit Real Valladolid on Sunday (21 February).
