Atletico Madrid’s promising season has turned into great disappointment in a matter of days. Atletico looked poised for a deep run in the Champions League and was holding steady at the top of the Spanish league,

Barcelona struck a potentially decisive blow in La Liga’s title race with a 4-2 win against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. Diego Simeone’s home team went ahead through Julian Alvarez in the 45th minute — with the Argentina forward banishing memories of his ‘two-touch’ penalty in Atletico’s Champions League round-of-16 exit to Real Madrid in midweek.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone remains optimistic about the club's title chances after Sunday's 4-2 LaLiga defeat to Barcelona, saying the loss was not down to bad luck but lack of consistency.