Atlético de Madrid, even with Griezmann out, lost at Nuevo Mirandilla in Cádiz (2-0), once again giving a bad image away from home, where they have only won one game since October. The colchoneros fell because of a double from Juanmi and say goodbye definitively to the League title, 11 points behind the leader, Real Madrid, with one more game.
Simeone hardly made any rotations thinking about the decisive match of the Champions League round of 16 against Inter Milan on Tuesday, but it did not help him to see the best version of his pupils. Atlético came out timid and thick in attack, at the mercy of a more intense local team with much clearer ideas.
Pellegrino's team was comfortable, even more so when in the 24th minute they opened the scoring in a great offensive triangulation. Robert Navarro, the most dangerous of the yellows, started the attack with a great dribble over De Paul before opening the left wing for Rubén Sobrino who placed a measured cross into the heart of the area. Juanmi picked up the gift and between centre-backs, unmarked, headed the ball into the back of the net.
The red and white reaction was conspicuous by its absence. Cádiz continued with better feelings. The Andalusians prowled the rival area more frequently and on the brink of half-time they claimed a penalty for a handball by Gabriel Paulista, who avoided the maximum penalty by having lightly brushed the ball with his head before. For its part, Atlético went into the break without having created a single scoring chance.
Simeone moved the team with the entry at the beginning of the second half of Correa, Riquelme and Molina, but the scenario barely changed. The first visitor attempt was from Correa, who in the 50th minute tried out Ledesma's practically new gloves. The comeback seemed complicated and became impossible with Cádiz's second goal.
Javi Hernández sent an innocent long ball into the area, initially easy for the defense, but Gabriel Paulista mistimed and left a free ball for Juanmi who did not forgive Oblak. Atlético protested a light touch from the forward towards the center back at the moment of the jump. Referee González Fuertes did not consider it enough to call a foul.
Nothing came of it for Atlético, not even in the 72nd minute, in the only moment where they could get involved in the game: Riquelme crossed from the left and Llorente's free header was met with a great save by Ledesma. It was the clearest chance and the last for a downbeat Atlético in the final stretch. Quite the opposite of a Cádiz team that added three very important points in the fight for permanence.
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