There’s some major intrigue at the top of the Spanish Liga BBVA…and no, Barcelona didn’t lose. (I mean, come on, Leo Messi). Actually, the team with one of the lowest payrolls in the league beat a side with one of the highest. Again, Real Madrid was not involved. I’m talking about Levante, a perpetually under-appreciated side with one of the lowest payrolls in the Liga BBVA grabbing a share of fourth place (fourth freaking place!) by beating Atlético Madrid, 2-0 at home. MARCA, a traditionally obnoxious tabloid devoid of any real journalistic integrity (for more biting analysis of Spanish journalism, check out my insane rantings here), described Atleti as looking like they had too much torrija a traditional Spanish desert during Semana Santa (Easter). For the first time in a long while, I agree with Marca. Atleti were boring, sluggish, wasteful, and tired (any more adjectives would be overkill, but you get the idea). They actually did look like they had had too much to eat the night before—you know, they looked the way you feel Thanksgiving morning.
Levante Vs. Atletico Madrid, 2012 La Liga: Atleti Lose To Levante, Say Goodbye To The Champions League
Levante, on the other hand, were strong. They were solid in defense, lethal in attack, and were by far the better side all afternoon. They scored within 50 seconds, when Valdo headed in a center from Barkero—the first shot, the first goal. They’d take their final two-nil lead only eight minutes later, when Koné blasted home another Barkero cross. I’d like to think that these two goals were more a testament to Levante’s strength (dead ball situations, and balls in the air) than to Atleti’s mediocre aerial defense. But then again, Atleti can make literally anyone look like Jan Koller (remember him?) on balls in the air.
We won’t know the exact implications of this game until we see how some of the other contests play out this week, but it’s certainly looking like the end of Atleti’s Champions League aspirations. They still retain a mathematical ability to qualify, but their practical chances are slim to none. A weird result from a perpetually weird team.
