(Reuters) – Spanish champions Atletico Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 loss at lowly Mallorca on Saturday to end their six-game winning streak in LaLiga.
Atletico are fourth in the standings on 57 points, level with Barcelona who have two games in hand, and three points behind second-placed Sevilla. Real Madrid, who host Getafe later on Saturday, lead the way on 69 points.
Coach Diego Simeone rested several players looking forward to their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City and Atletico struggled to find their rhythm against fourth-bottom Mallorca who were on a run of seven consecutive league losses.
Mallorca’s winner was scored in the 71st minute by Kosovo striker Vedat Muriqi who converted a penalty after Atletico defender Reinildo Mandava fouled Pablo Maffeo.
It was a poor performance by the champions who managed only one shot on target in the match.
Battling against relegation, Mallorca started the match with a defensive mindset but with Atletico struggling to create much in the first half the home team went on the attack after the break.
They had the first scoring opportunity of the game in the first play of the second half, when Brian Olivan sent in a powerful shot which Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak dived to stop just inside his left post.
Mallorca had another great chance when Muriqi was inches away with a header from a free kick with only the goalkeeper in front of him.
Mallorca got their goal after Mandava’s foul on Maffeo, Muriqi sending his spot-kick into the top corner of the net.
“We need to do more, we need to do better,” Oblak told Movistar Plus.
“Yes, we were tired after last Tuesday’s game at Manchester City when we didn’t play a good game, it was a disappointing result, but there is no excuse.
“They are fighting for survival and came to the game with a purpose. We should have expected that and be up to our standards.”
With seven games left including tough ones against Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad, Atletico will have to keep an eye on fifth-place Real Betis who are only one point behind them in the race for the final Champions League spot.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas in Madrid, editing by Ed Osmond)
