Simone and Atletico Madrid continue to disappoint in La Liga.

In the early hours at 0:30 on August 24th, Atletico Madrid once again disappointed by drawing 1-1 with Elche at the Metropolitano stadium, earning only 1 point from their first two matches in La Liga 2025/26.

Although controlling the game and creating many chances, Diego Simeone’s team once again dropped points due to a lack of sharpness in finishing.

At the start of the match, Atletico came out full of energy. In the 8th minute, Alexander Sorloth took advantage of a clever through ball from David Hancko to break through and beat the opposing goalkeeper, putting the home team ahead. However, this lead lasted less than 10 minutes. From a quick counterattack, Rafa Mir equalized for Elche with a decisive shot, leveling the match again.

After conceding, Atletico increased the pressure. Giuliano Simeone hit the post with a shot, Marcos Llorente made several dangerous runs, and Sorloth missed a golden opportunity. Unfortunately for the red and white team, Elche’s goalkeeper Matias Dituro had an outstanding performance, making multiple crucial saves. Despite dominating most of the time and taking many shots, Atletico could not find a second goal.

After the game, Diego Simeone openly expressed his frustration:“We deserved to win this match. The whole team attacked for 90 minutes, but Elche defended stubbornly and their goalkeeper made two important saves. We made a mistake on the goal we conceded and paid the price. The result leaves a bitter taste.”

Nevertheless, he called for patience from the fans: “Fans have every reason to be angry, but we feel the same way. The important thing is to keep fighting, be patient and stay calm. We have a young squad that needs time to develop. If we continue on this path, good results will come.”

After the first two rounds, Atletico have dropped 5 points despite taking the lead in both games. This shows that Simeone’s team lacks the ability to finish off opponents, a trait that was once their hallmark during successful years.

After just two matches, Atletico faces the risk of being left behind by direct rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid in the title race. In September, the team will face tougher fixtures, including the Madrid derby against Real and a congested Champions League schedule. If the situation does not improve soon, criticism aimed at Simeone will undoubtedly intensify.