LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone during a training session at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Atlético de Madrid. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone during a training session at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Atlético de Madrid. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Atletico Madrid prepared for their trip to Liverpool in the Champions League by losing “the match in just five minutes,” falling to a ‘deserved’ 3-0 defeat.
Andoni Iraola’s men kick off their European campaign on Wednesday, with Atletico Madrid making the trip to Anfield for the opening match for a second successive season.
And while the Reds notched their first win of the season ahead of the Champions League meeting, Diego Simeone’s side were kept scoreless against Athletic Club on Saturday.
After an even first half, Athletic ruthlessly came out of the halftime break to score twice within three minutes of the restart.
Atletico Madrid XI vs. Athletic Club: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Grimaldo; Simeone (Romero 59′), Barrios, Hjulmand (Koke 59′), Lookman (Ortiz 58′); Lee (Alvarez 59′), Baena (Cardoso 76′)
Nico Williams and Robert Navarro both got on the scoresheet, with Oihan Sancet adding the third in the 90th minute to wrap up an impressive win over Atletico.
Simeone’s men managed more shots (15-11) and more on target (5-4) than the home side, but failed to create any big chances, and the Argentine accepted it was a ‘deserved’ result.
“In the second half, we lost the match in just five minutes; in fact, I believe that two minutes were enough to change everything,” the Atletico Madrid manager said, as per beIN SPORTS.
“Then two minutes of lost attention and focus passed, and an inability to settle situations that we should have dealt with better.
“Athletic took advantage of that moment of lost focus. They deservedly won the match.”
How Atletico Madrid are shaping up for Anfield visit
Atletico Results so Far
Games: Malaga (2-0), Villarreal (2-2), Sevilla (3-1), Athletic (0-3)
Simeone explained in the aftermath of his side’s first defeat of the season that they are “in the phase of building the team,” with three new signings named in his starting lineup.
A further two came off the bench in the second half, while Julian Alvarez has yet to start after trying to join Barcelona in the summer.
The Argentine has been involved twice off the bench for Atletico this season, and has sat out entirely in their other two matches, meaning a start at Anfield is unlikely.
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