The Atlético Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, praised his players and told them to stay positive despite a disappointing 1-0 La Liga defeat at lowly local rivals Leganés on Saturday which ended their record-breaking 15-game winning streak.
Simeone lamented Atlético’s wasted chances in a game they dominated with more than 65% of possession, three strikes off the woodwork and twice as many goal attempts as the home side, including a penalty missed by Antoine Griezmann in added time.
“The team generated enough situations to have had a different scoreline,” Simeone said. “We started with a lot of energy, with key plays in which we could have found the goal. In the second half they made good use of the dead ball and after they scored they started defending better, with humility, and we found it difficult to overcome that. We had that penalty, but Leganés did very well. It was our turn to lose.”
Atlético top the standings on 44 points, one ahead of second-placed Real Madrid and six clear of Barcelona in third, both with a game in hand. Real host Las Palmas on Sunday and Barca play at Getafe later on Saturday.
Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Getafe as Mauro Arambarri’s strike cancelled out Jules Koundé’s opener to extend Barça’s winless run in LaLiga to four matches. Koundé put the visiting side ahead in the ninth minute, beating Getafe goalkeeper David Soria from close range after a great pass from Pedri. Getafe equalised following a spell of pressure in the 34th minute when Arambarri tapped home a rebound.
Barcelona are third in the standings on 39 points, four behind second-placed Real Madrid and five adrift of leaders Atlético. Real, who have a game in hand, host Las Palmas on Sunday.
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Girona missed the chance to move into the top six and the European qualification places when they lost at home to Sevilla on Saturday, but manager Míchel still believes they can achieve that goal. Míchel’s side, who finished third last season to enter European competition for the first time in their history, have struggled to recreate that form this campaign, and the 2-1 defeat leaves them eighth.
“One game does not take away the idea that we have the potential to fight for Europe. I am clear about it and also that we have to show it on the pitch,” Míchel said. “This is a step backwards but there is the whole second half of the season. We have to continue believing.”
Leon Goretzka scored once in each half to help Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to a 3-2 victory over visiting VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday. The Bavarians hit the crossbar through Leroy Sané after three minutes before Goretzka fired them into a 20th-minute lead with his shot going in off the post. The Wolves needed just four minutes to level with their first chance through Mohamed Amoura but the hosts went back in front in the 39th after Michael Olise drilled in another long-range effort.
Bayern kept their foot on the gas and Goretzka headed in off the post just past the hour to make it 3-1 before Algeria international Amoura set up a tense finale with his second goal of the game in the 88th minute following a stunning run by substitute Tiago Tomas.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz scored twice and set up another goal as he steered the German champions to a comfortable 3-1 victory over visiting Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday to stay four points behind Bayern.
Romelu Lukaku scored a late goal to earn Napoli a 3-2 win at Atalanta and strengthen their position at the top of the Serie A table. The Belgian striker netted 12 minutes from time with a glancing header from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s cross.
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Napoli, who lost 3-0 at home to Atalanta earlier this season, lead the table on 50 points, six ahead of Inter Milan who have two games in hand with Atalanta third on 43. Atalanta went into the match after three consecutive league draws and the loss to Napoli ended their 16-match unbeaten run.
Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui continued his outstanding form, scoring his 14th league goal with a left-footed strike into the top corner after 16 minutes to give Atalanta the lead. Matteo Politano brought Napoli level 11 minutes later, capitalising on a deflected cross that fell into his path.
Napoli struck back five minutes before the break when Anguissa reached the byline and pulled the ball back for Scott McTominay to slot home from close range. Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman equalised five minutes after the break, nutmegging Giovanni Di Lorenzo before driving into the box under pressure from three Napoli defenders and sending a low shot into the bottom corner.
Second-half goals by Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah earned Juventus a 2-0 home win over Milan in Serie A to lift the hosts into the top four. Forward Mbangula gave Juve the lead just before the hour mark with a curled first-time shot that went in off the crossbar. Midfielder Weah doubled the advantage in the 64th minute, netting a low shot inside the far post following a solo run.
A late goal from Bradley Barcola earned Paris St Germain a 2-1 victory at Lens on Saturday to keep the French champions well clear at the top of the Ligue 1 standings. Barcola struck four minutes from time when he met a pass from Joao Neves on the left of the box and sent a powerful shot into the top right corner.
PSG lead the table with 46 points, 10 ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille as they prepare to host Strasbourg on Sunday.
