Cadiz 2-0 Atletico Madrid: Atleti stumble to disappointing defeat at relegation-threatened hosts

Atletico Madrid suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat at third-bottom Cadiz on Saturday, with Juanmi scoring twice to give the hosts their first LaLiga win in six months and third in 28 games this season.

Atletico's faint title hopes were hampered by the absence of France forward Antoine Griezmann, who is doubtful for Wednesday's Champions League last-16 match against Inter Milan due to an ankle injury. They are now in danger of missing out on a top-four finish.

Diego Simeone's side are fourth with 55 points, five ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who visit Las Palmas this Sunday. Real Madrid lead the standings with 66 points.

Atletico were toothless and lacked attacking flair, finishing with just three shots on goal.

The hosts were not much better, but they did manage to score with their only shot on goal in the first half, a stooping header from forward Juanmi in the 24th minute.

Cadiz had not taken the lead in a league match since December 10 against Osasuna, but the visitors fought back on that occasion and the game ended 1-1.

Simeone made three substitutions at halftime, but the home side remained comfortable in defence, with only a Samuel Lino curler from the edge of the box and a close-range header from Marcos Llorente saved by Conan Ledesma posing any threat.

When Atletico appeared to be closing in on an equaliser, Juanmi sealed the win for Cadiz with a close-range strike following a defensive error in the 64th minute when last man Gabriel Paulista missed an easy header trying to clear from the edge of the box.

This was Atletico's seventh loss in 14 away games this season, during which they had won 15 of a possible 42 points.

"We have to be self-critical. There are too many defeats away from home, this can't happen," captain Koke told Movistar Plus. "If we want to be at the top, we have to look at ourselves. It's costing us, it's a job for all of us to improve.

"The team is trying, we want to, but it's not working. We have to find out what is happening..."

Cadiz remain in 18th place, but they are now two points behind 17th-placed Celta Vigo, who visit Real Madrid this Sunday.

SportsLigue