La Liga: Simeone demands more after Levante draw
Simeone rues dropped pointsAtletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says his team needs to "improve and quickly" after losing ground in the title race after drawing 2-2 with Levante on Thursday night.
The reigning champions are 33/1 to reclaim their crown, but they are now five points behind league-leaders Real Sociedad.
Missed opportunity for Atleti
Simeone's side have now gone three games without a victory, even though they took the lead on Thursday. Antoine Griezmann's close-range header gave them the perfect start, but Levante's Enis Bardhi levelled after Luis Suarez gave away a penalty.
Summer-signing Matheus Cunha scored his first goal for the club to hand Atletico the lead once again, but it was not enough for Los Rojiblancos.
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Levante were awarded a penalty in the final few minutes, with Renan Lodi adjudged to have handled possession in the box. Bardhi, who had not played for two months due to injury, stepped up to level the score, and Levante picked up an important point as they plot their move out of the bottom three.
Betis test up next
Simeone's side are back in action on Sunday against Real Betis, and he has urged his team to bounce back at the first attempt.
He told reporters: "The reality is that we have to improve and quickly.
"We have to improve as a team, we shouldn't blame the referee, we shouldn't focus on their late goal being a penalty, nor the penalty in the first half.
"We shouldn't use any excuses. We have to work hard, and we have to improve. We have to try and get out of this run of form."
Simeone saw red after being sent to the stands by referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes following his complaints.
He will be hoping for a quick turnaround from his players, with Atletico travelling to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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