Atlético’s one big flaw exposed once again as top-3 hopes take huge hit

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 9: Marcos Llorente of Atletico Madrid disappointed during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico Madrid v Celta de Vigo at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on May 9, 2026 in Madrid Spain (Photo by M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images Atlético de Madrid’s memorable 2025/26 season is heading toward a depressing end following the Rojiblancos’ 1-0 home loss to Celta Vigo on Saturday. Celta secured its first league win away to Atlético since June 2007 when Borja Iglesias chipped Jan Oblak after 61 minutes at a dour and rainy Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Iglesias’ goal had followed an hour when Atlético enjoyed near-total domination over the visitors, but Diego Simeone’s men — often so prolific this season — could not beat Ionuț Radu in the Celta goal.

Atlético’s hopes of finishing third in LaLiga hang by a thread following the side’s 10th defeat of the league season. Villarreal drew 1-1 at Mallorca on Sunday and have a six-point advantage over Atleti with three rounds to go; Atleti visit Villarreal in the season finale on May 24. Let’s get into the takeaways from Saturday’s loss, Atleti’s third home defeat in the league this term.

The lack of defensive talent The sequence that ended in Celta Vigo’s goal pointed once more to a years-long issue at Atlético de Madrid that must be addressed (once again) this summer if Diego Simeone’s side is to make a renewed push for domestic and continental silverware in 2027: a stunning paucity of pure defensive skill. The goal starts after Atlético actually recover the football. Nahuel Molina, just introduced as a substitute, put Koke and Marcos Llorente under a heap of pressure with an ill-advised trivela pass (lmao) into the center circle.

Koke is able to settle it down, but he mishits a pass directly to Ilaix Moriba to start a Celta counter. Pablo Durán receives the ball and cuts inside on Koke to create a small pocket of space where he finds Williot Swedberg. Molina jogs back into position while Marc Pubill and Robin Le Normand both mistime their slide tackles, and Dávid Hancko’s desperate slide over to Iglesias comes too late — the Spain striker calmly chips it over a motionless Oblak.