Simeone left reeling after Espanyol’s dramatic 2-1 upset

WEB DESK: Atlético Madrid’s LaLiga campaign began in shock fashion on Sunday night as Diego Simeone’s men surrendered a second-half lead to fall 2-1 to Espanyol in Cornellà marking the Argentine coach’s first-ever opening day defeat in charge of the club.

The night had started brightly for Atleti, with Julián Álvarez showcasing why he is one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards. In the 37th minute, the Argentine forward curled a sublime free kick into the top corner after Conor Gallagher was fouled by Leandro Cabrera. Early in the second half, he nearly doubled his tally, weaving past two defenders only to rattle the crossbar with a low strike. Atlético looked firmly in control until the game dramatically turned against them.

Espanyol’s fightback began in the 73rd minute when a long set-piece dropped awkwardly behind Atleti’s backline, allowing substitute Miguel Rubio to ghost in and slot past Jan Oblak. The hosts’ momentum carried them forward, and with just six minutes remaining, Pere Milla met a whipped cross with a diving header that looped over Oblak into the far corner, sealing a remarkable comeback and leaving jaws hanging in disbelief.

Atletico Madrid earns victory; Botafogo advances out of Group B

Attention quickly turned to Simeone, whose substitutions were widely questioned. Replacing Álex Baena and Thiago Almada with Antoine Griezmann and Giacomo Raspadori disrupted Atlético’s rhythm and coincided with Espanyol’s resurgence. Asked about the tactical calls, Simeone did not shy away from responsibility.

“I think I had a learning experience for myself,” he admitted to the press. “I’ll keep some things private, but I take away a lesson from this. We’ll improve.”

Despite the sting of defeat, Simeone highlighted positives in Atlético’s performance, noting their control of the match until the 60th minute. “We played with personality, moved the ball well, and created chances. But football is about results, and we cannot be satisfied with this outcome.”

On the defensive lapses that cost his side, the coach was blunt: “Espanyol made good use of the opportunities they had. That second goal hurt us and took away our chance of winning or drawing.”

Pablo Barrios scores twice, Atletico Madrid sail past Sounders

Simeone also downplayed Álvarez’s visible frustration at being substituted. “It’s normal to be angry. We all feel that way, even in casual games. He was playing well.”

For Simeone, the defeat was more than just three points lost, it was a rare and humbling opening-day lesson. For Espanyol, it was the perfect statement: even the giants can stumble when given a chance.