It’s Mad dash for the title
ATLETICO SLIP UP AS REAL CLOSE IN
Atletico Madrid 0 Levante ATLETICO MADRID’S Mario Hermoso is refusing to press the panic button despite his side’s latest wobble.
The La Liga leaders – who face Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday – have won just once from their last four league games after this home loss.
Jose Luis Morales gave Levante the lead with a deflected strike that deceived keeper Jan Oblak.
And Jorge de Frutos fired into an empty net to score in injury time after Oblak had committed himself forward for a corner to complete the smash-and-grab.
Despite a first league defeat since December, draws have seen their title rivals make up ground. Defender Hermoso said: “We had so many attempts on goal but weren’t able to score.
“And if you don’t score and keep letting them in, you’ll be in trouble.
“But I’m sure we’ll start scoring soon – we’re the same team that got to this stage. This is a marathon not a sprint.”
Atletico could not beat Levante keeper Daniel
Cardenas, who made a series of saves yesterday.
Luis Suarez hit the post while Angel Correa’s goal was ruled out following a foul by Suarez. Joao Felix wasted two chances while Suarez, Marcos Llorente and Renan
Lodi also threatened as Atletico had a total of 28 shots on goal. But Levante, who had held Diego Simeone’s men to a 1-1 draw just 72 hours earlier, claimed their first ever away league win over Atletico in 17 attempts.
City rivals Real Madrid took full advantage as they squeezed past stuggling Real Valladolid last night.
A 65th-minute header from Casemiro (left) proved the difference as Real moved to within three points of their city rivals.
And although Real have played two games more, they are now breathing down the necks of stuttering Atletico.
TORQUAY slipped to a 3-2 home defeat to FC HALIFAX last night.
The table-topping Gulls have now won just once from their last seven games following Jeff King’s late winner.
SUTTON are hot on their heels after thumping 10-man WEALDSTONE 4-1 and are now four points behind with three games in hand.
HARTLEPOOL kept the pressure up thanks to Gavan Holohan’s last-gasp winner against YEOVIL.
NOTTS COUNTY lost 1-0 to visiting CHESTERFIELD while fellow promotionchasers STOCKPORT were sunk by a penalty from Joe Tomlinson against EASTLEIGH.