After 83 days unbeaten and an impressive streak of 15 consecutive wins across all competitions, Atlético Madrid suffered a 1-0 defeat against Leganés at the Estadio Municipal. This result, part of LaLiga’s Matchday 20, puts Diego Simeone’s team’s leadership in the tournament at risk.

The Colchoneros hadn’t lost a match since October 27, 2024, when they also fell 1-0 to Real Betis. Since then, they had recorded eight victories in LaLiga, four in the Copa del Rey, and three in the Champions League, setting a new club record.

The goal that ended the streak was scored by defender Matija Nastasic in the 49th minute. Atlético’s best chance to equalize came in the 88th minute, when VAR awarded a penalty for a handball by Sergio González Poirrier following a header from Robin Le Normand. However, Antoine Griezmann missed the spot-kick, sending the ball wide.

Atlético also had other clear opportunities throughout the match. Julián Álvarez threatened in the 13th minute of the first half, and Griezmann hit the post shortly after. In stoppage time, Ángel Correa came close to scoring, but goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović saved his one-on-one attempt.

The starting lineup for Atlético featured Argentine players Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Julián Álvarez, and Giuliano Simeone. Additionally, Ángel Correa came off the bench in the second half, while Juan Musso was among the substitutes.

Despite the setback, Atlético remains at the top of LaLiga with 44 points, but they could be overtaken by Real Madrid, who have 43 points and will face Las Palmas this Sunday. Barcelona, with 38 points, could also narrow the gap if they win against Getafe.

Atlético’s next challenge will be in the Champions League, where they will host Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, January 21. The team is currently 11th in the overall standings of the tournament’s new format and will aim to secure a spot among the top eight to advance directly to the round of 16.

On the domestic front, Atlético will host Villarreal next weekend for Matchday 21 of LaLiga. Additionally, they have already secured a spot in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, alongside teams such as Osasuna, Leganés, Barcelona, Getafe, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Valencia. The draw for the matchups will take place this Monday.

The 15 consecutive victories represent the longest winning streak in Atlético Madrid’s history, surpassing the previous record of 13 set under Simeone’s leadership in 2012. This achievement also places the club among the best streaks in the history of Europe’s top five leagues, only behind teams like Bayern Munich (23), Real Madrid (22), Manchester City (21 and 20), Barcelona (18), and Paris Saint-Germain (16).