Atlético Madrid slipped to a 1-0 home defeat against Real Betis as Antony stunning strike punished the hosts and left them vulnerable to being caught by Villarreal in the race for third, while Athletic Bilbao ended a seven game winless run and Sevilla and Girona drew after a late missed penalty.
Atlético Madrid suffered a damaging home defeat to Real Betis, losing 1-0 in Matchday 23 of the Spanish league, and the result leaves them exposed in the race for third place with Villarreal now in position to close the gap.
The decisive moment arrived in the 28th minute and it was a goal of real quality. Antony, operating wide and looking to cut inside, collected the ball outside the penalty area and shaped a left footed effort with pace and precision. The shot was placed rather than blasted, bending away from danger and beyond Jan Oblak, the former Benfica goalkeeper, before it could be stopped. In a match that often felt tight and tactical, that single action proved enough to settle it.
For Atlético, the frustration is obvious because home games are usually where they build consistency and control. Even when they do not dominate, they tend to manage risk well, keep the scoreline stable and rely on moments from set pieces or a clinical finish. This time, they were forced to chase the game for more than an hour, and that changes everything: it pushes the defensive line higher, opens more space for transitions, and increases the pressure to create clear chances rather than simply keep the match in a comfortable rhythm. Betis, with the advantage, could be more selective and focus on protecting the central zones, forcing Atlético into repeated attacks that did not translate into the equaliser.
The bigger consequence is in the table. Atlético remain third on 45 points, but Villarreal are fourth on 42 and host Espanyol on Monday, with an additional game still to be played. That combination makes the situation uncomfortable for Atlético because a single setback can quickly turn into a serious threat to their position. In a season where Champions League places are everything, every point dropped at home adds weight to the next fixtures.
From the Betis perspective, the win is a major boost. They stay fifth on 38 points and keep themselves firmly in the fight for European qualification. Winning away at Atlético is not just about points, it is also a statement about maturity and game management, especially when the opponent is forced into a more aggressive posture. It is the kind of result that can strengthen belief and momentum for the weeks ahead.
At the top, Barcelona continue to lead the standings on 58 points, with Real Madrid second on 54 and still due to play in Valencia later today. That context matters because it shapes the urgency for everyone beneath them. The leading pair are setting a high pace, and the teams behind have little margin for error if they want to keep their season targets within reach.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao finally returned to winning form after a 7 match wait, beating a struggling Levante 4-2 in the Basque Country. The turning point came early: Levante played almost the entire match a man down after Matturro was sent off in the 17th minute. That kind of disadvantage usually forces a team into survival mode, and while Levante did manage to score twice, the workload and defensive strain eventually told.
Gorka Guruzeta led the way for Athletic with 2 goals, providing the cutting edge that had been missing in recent games. Serrano and Navarro added the other strikes in the second half, underlining how Athletic were able to turn pressure and territory into goals once the match opened up. Levante responded through Elgezabal and Olasagasti, and while the scoreline shows they stayed involved, playing almost 75 minutes with 10 men is a brutal demand at this level, especially away from home.
In Andalusia, Sevilla drew 1-1 with Girona in a match that swung on a late moment of waste. Girona had the chance to win it in stoppage time but missed a penalty, with Stuani unable to convert. For Sevilla, getting a point in that scenario feels like a reprieve, especially given the fine margins that often decide matches between teams with European ambitions or top half goals. Fábio Cardoso was among the substitutes for Sevilla, while Girona will view the missed spot kick as a significant opportunity lost.
Finally, Getafe delivered a strong away performance in Vitoria, beating Alavés 2-0 with Domingos Duarte starting in central defence. Clean sheets on the road are often built on discipline and positioning first, and Getafe managed to pair that solidity with the goals needed to turn control into a clear result. For Alavés, home defeats like this increase pressure, particularly when the wider table remains tight and points are hard to recover.
Overall, the headline result is the one in Madrid: Atlético lose at home, Betis gain a major win, and Villarreal now have a clear chance to turn the battle for third into a genuine fight.
