Despite debuting most of their new signings, Atletico Madrid on Sunday could not avoid conceding two late goals and losing their opening Spanish league match for the first-ever time under coach Diego Simeone.
Host RCD Espanyol’s 2-1 win was Atletico’s first opening defeat since Simeone took over in late 2011. They had not previously lost an opening league game since 2009.
It was a good start for Espanyol under the ownership of England-based group Velocity Sport Limited and its US shareholders.
Photo: AFP
“What a wonderful way to start the season, with a win against Atletico Madrid!” US businessman Alan Pace posted on Instagram after attending the match in Barcelona.
Simeone started the match with five of the club’s new signings for the season — Alex Baena, Thiago Almada, Johnny Cardoso, David Hancko and Matteo Ruggeri. Giacomo Raspadori also made his debut coming off the bench in the second half.
Atletico took the lead with Julian Alvarez’s free-kick in the 37th minute, but conceded goals by Miguel Rubio in the 73rd and Pere Milla in the 84th.
“It happens,” Simeone said. “The result hurts, but it’s going to make us improve and grow. I’m left with all the good things the team did.”
Last season, Atletico only twice lost a league match that they were leading.
“We played a very good first half and we had the match under control in the second,” Atletico midfielder Koke said. “But after their first goal they turned things around.”
With transfer rumors in the past, Nico Williams led Athletic Bilbao to a 3-2 win over Sevilla in their opening Spanish league match.
Williams, who had been linked with a move to Barcelona in the offseason but seems set to stay with his boyhood club, put the hosts ahead by converting a 36th-minute penalty-kick.
Athletic, coming off a fourth-placed finish last season, added to the lead with a goal from Maroan Sannadi in the 43rd before Sevilla rallied with goals by Dodi Lukebakio in the 60th and Lucien Agoume in the 72nd.
Robert Navarro put Athletic back in front for good by scoring in the 81st.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon helped the hosts secure the victory as Sevilla pressed forward to the end.
It was Athletic’s first match with Inaki Williams, Nico Williams’ older brother, as their main captain — a first for a black player at the club that traditionally only fields players from Spain’s northern Basque Country region or adjoining areas.
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