Madrid suffers a surprise defeat from Barcelona team

A transfer window unlike Diego Simeone. Atletico brought in creative players, footballers who know how to play with purpose, who bring great vibes — but it seems someone in Madrid miscalculated when building this team. Was it Cholo, the sporting director, the president? Who knows… The fans don’t really care, because this doesn’t look like the beginning of a prosperous season. Expectations are still high, but at the Metropolitano in the coming days there will be some soul-searching, following the defeat in the La Liga opener in Barcelona, where Espanyol came from behind (2–1) to do something no Spanish team had managed since August 2009, when Malaga handed Los Colchoneros their previous opening-day loss (0–3). After 16 years, the red-and-whites suffered defeat in the first round, even though it seemed they would march forward confidently.

Especially after the first half, highlighted by a magnificent goal from Julian Alvarez. The Argentine confirmed why he was the team’s best player last season, when near the end of the half he perfectly executed a free kick and gave the visitors a reason to celebrate, even though Manolo Jimenez’s men could also have taken the lead, with Robert and Cabrera threatening Jan Oblak. Aside from that specialty from the Parakeets, Atletico created promising situations, pressed, pushed forward — but something just wasn’t clicking. Even though Cholo Simeone gave starting spots to as many as five newcomers. Center-back Hancko, left-back Ruggeri, defensive midfielder Cardoso, attackers Almada and Baena… With the other signings added in, that’s a 175,000,000 euros outlay in this transfer window. And still it wasn’t enough, because just like last season, Atletico often “switched off” in away matches and dropped points that seemed within reach.

Espanyol held firm thanks in part to saves from Marko Dmitrović, but kept the best for last, when the protagonists were players of second-division caliber. For example, Miguel Rubio arrived in Catalonia this June from Granada, with whom he played in Segunda and suffered relegation from La Liga just a year ago. He was the one who equalized, before the comeback was completed by Pere Milla, who a few years ago was bottom of the top flight with Elche, and in the second tier played for clubs like Alicante, Numancia, Murcia, and Espanyol. But now Milla is the hero for the fans at Cornella, managing to meet the ball with his head past Robin Le Normand and send it in a high arc where Oblak couldn’t reach it.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 1

Friday

Girona - Rayo Vallecano 1-3 (0-3)

/Roca 57 - De Frutos 18, Garcia 20, Palazon 45 pen/

Villarreal - Oviedo 2-0 (2-0)

/Eyong 29, Gueye 36/

Saturday

Mallorca - Barcelona 0-3 (0-2)

/Raphinha 7, Torres 23, Yamal 90+4/

Alaves - Levante (1-0)

/Martinez 36 - Toljan 68/

Valencia - Sociedad (0-0)

/Lopez 57 - Kubo 60/

Sunday

Celta - Getafe 0-2 (0-1)

/Liso 47, Uche 72/

Ath.Bilbao - Sevilla 3-2 (

/N. Williams 36(p), Sannadi 43, Navarro 81 - Lukebakio 60 Agoume 72/

Espanyol - Atl.Madrid 2-1 (0-1)

/Rubio 73, Milla 84 - Alvarez 37/

Monday

22.00: (3.50) Elche (3.35) Betis (2.25)

Tuesday

22.00: (1.28) Real Madrid (5.70) Osasuna (10.5)

***odds are subject to change***