Atletico de Madrid endured a string of impressive results only to see their hopes of staying atop La Liga EA Sports slip away after trailing 2-1 away to UD Las Palmas. The visitors delivered a strong second half performance with two goals and a valiant comeback, but in the end it wasn’t enough to seize victory or restore the summit position.
The opening minutes hinted that the red and white side would face a tough night. Las Palmas pressed aggressively, stifling the visitors and forcing Simeone to work hard to calm the tempo and find a foothold in the game. Once the team adjusted to the high pressure, they began to trouble the local defense and create meaningful openings.
Youth product Pablo Barrios, newly included in Simeone’s starting lineup, carved out the early chance in the 15th minute with a left-footed attempt from inside the area that goalkeeper Alvaro Vallejos saved. The move began with a sliding challenge from Alex Suarez, and it set the tone for a contest fought at high pace.
Their partner in the attack had an even clearer opportunity in the 23rd minute. Rodrigo Riquelme received a superb ball, and Antoine Griezmann stood in space in front of the Las Palmas goal, winding up a left-footed strike aimed at the near post that forced a sharp save from Vallejos.
Munir El Haddadi came closest to breaking the deadlock before the break with a shot that skimmed over the crossbar in the 34th minute, representing the sole real danger posed by the visitors in a first half played at sprint speed and intensity.
By halftime, Las Palmas felt they had matched a theoretically stronger foe and believed they could take advantage, but their offensive threat needed more to translate into a lead on the scoreboard.
The start of the second half followed a similar pattern, but a moment of perseverance changed the complexion of the match. A ball that stayed in play allowed a sequence that began with Sergi Cardona and found its way to Javi Muñoz, who laid off to Kirian for a low drive from outside the box. It wasn’t heavily curved, yet it skimmed past Oblak to restore parity, with the video assistant confirming that the ball had not crossed the byline in the buildup.
That equalizer energized Las Palmas and the home crowd, who could sense a shift in momentum in favor of the hosts. Riquelme returned to the forefront, arriving first on a loose ball and forcing a shot that rattled the post and even struck Vallejos on the head—yet the ball stubbornly refused to cross the line.
Simeone’s bench responded with a flurry of movement, reintroducing Koke, Griezmann, and later Llorente and Correa to reconfigure the attack as the coach sought a decisive breakthrough. Giménez and Saúl Ñíguez also checked in, adding fresh ideas and grit to the pressing game and counter-pressing efforts.
Las Palmas continued to threaten through Benito Ramírez, who joined the fray with vigor. The winger punished a late lapse by Oblak with a sharp finish at the near post, following a precise assist from Munir El Haddadi. Ramírez’s moment gave the home team another edge as the match wore on and the strategy shifted to protect the advantage while remaining dangerous on the break.
The momentum of the clash swung with the home side’s substitutions as the crowd roared their support. Riquelme anchored the attack from the right, delivering a measured cross that Morata redirected toward goal, only for Vallejos to produce a superb stop. A subsequent long-range effort from Barrios forced Vallejos into another save, keeping the score in Las Palmas’ favor and the drama alive as the clock ticked down.
Eight minutes of stoppage time offered one last chance for Atlético to snatch a late equalizer, but the island side held firm. The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought victory for UD Las Palmas, a result that kept Atlético de Madrid from reclaiming the top spot and marked a challenging end to a troublesome stretch on the road for the visitors.