Atletico de Madrid suffered a major setback in their bid to win the 2020-21 La Liga title after losing 1-0 to Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville.
Jan Oblak’s penalty save in the 8th minute was in vain as Diego Simeone’s side still succumbed to a defeat away from home to leave the Spanish La Liga title race wide open.
This was only Atletico Madrid’s third defeat in the league this season but it has come at a crucial juncture with just 9 games to go in the season.
Marcus Acuna’s header gave the hosts a massive victory as they consolidate their place in the top 4 in a bid to be playing UEFA Champions League football next season.
The win took Sevilla to 58 points from 29 games, now just 8 behind league leaders Atletico.
This is how things currently stand in the league.
Captain Jesus Navas delivered a perfect cross from the right hand side of the field to pick out an unmarked Acuna who neatly headed home past the Solvenian superstar goalkeeper Oblak.
The Argentinian scored in the 40th minute after Lucas Ocampos missed a penalty early on in the game after Saul Niguez fouled Ivan Rakitic in the Atleti box.
Atletico Madrid are chasing a first league title since 2014, and are now just three points clear at the top, with Real Madrid just behind them in second. Third-placed Barcelona can, however, close Atleti’s lead at the top to just one point if they manage to beat 16th-placed Real Valladolid on Monday.
On a frustrating night for the team from Madrid, Mario Hermoso wasted a glorious opportunity to equalise but smashed the ball way over the bar from just 15 yards out.
Can Atletico hold on or will Real Madrid retain their league title? Or will it be a resurgent Barcelona to win it that may convince Lionel Messi to stay back with his boyhood club?
The race is heating up and you cannot take your eyes off it.
