U.S. males’s nationwide group midfielder Johnny Cardoso made his debut for Atlético Madrid, however the group conceded two late objectives to lose its LaLiga season opener to Espanyol.
Regardless of debuting most of its new signings, Atleti misplaced its Spanish league opening match for the first-ever time beneath coach Diego Simeone.
Host Espanyol’s 2-1 win on Sunday was Atletico’s first opening defeat since Simeone took over in late 2011. It hadn’t beforehand misplaced a gap league recreation since 2009.
Together with Cardoso, Simeone began the match with 5 of the membership’s new signings for the season — Alex Baena, Thiago Almada, David Hancko and Matteo Ruggeri. Giacomo Raspadori additionally made his debut coming off the bench within the second half.
Cardoso, 23, has 20 worldwide appearances for the U.S. males’s group. He’s anticipated to be within the combine for USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. Pochettino, a former participant for Espanyol, was in attendance at Sunday’s match.
Atletico took the lead with Julian Alvarez’s free kick within the thirty seventh minute however conceded objectives by Miguel Rubio within the 73rd and Pere Milla within the 84th.
“It occurs,” Simeone mentioned. “The outcome hurts, however it’s going to make us enhance and develop. I’m left with all the great issues the group did.”
Final season, Atletico solely twice misplaced a league match that it was main.
“We performed an excellent first half and we had the match beneath management within the second,” Atletico midfielder Koke mentioned. “However after their first aim they turned issues round.”
Barcelona started the protection of its Spanish league title with a cushty 3-0 win at nine-man Mallorca on Saturday. Actual Madrid hosts Osasuna on Tuesday.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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