Home  › News  › Football betting

Diego Simeone warns of defensive issues as Atletico Madrid leak goals

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone admits his team is still rebuilding after a defensive slump saw them lose their Champions League opener to Liverpool.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 10 September 2026

Atletico Madrid threw away an early lead to lose 2 to 1 against Liverpool at Anfield in their opening Champions League match. Marcos Llorente put the Spanish side ahead in the 17th minute before goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister turned the tie around. This was only the second time in 14 Champions League matches where Atletico lost after scoring first. The defeat continues a shaky start to the season for the Spanish giants.

Defensive worries for bettors

Bettors backing Atletico Madrid for clean sheets should beware as the team has now conceded eight goals in just five matches across all competitions. They let in three goals against Athletic Club and another two on Merseyside. Simeone admitted after the match that his squad is currently in a construction phase as they try to fix these defensive errors. He noted that many of the goals they are conceding are down to their own mistakes.

Impact on the markets

This poor defensive form means punters might want to look at the over goals markets or both teams to score when Atletico play. Their usual reputation for tight defensive displays under Simeone is not holding up early in this campaign. This vulnerability could also see their odds drift in the La Liga title market if they do not find stability quickly. Opposing them in upcoming fixtures could offer value while they sort out their back line.

Alvarez a bright spark

One positive for player prop bettors was the performance of summer signing Julian Alvarez who started the match amid transfer rumours. Alvarez set up the opening goal for Llorente and registered the most shots on target for his team. Simeone praised his work rate and attitude over the full 90 minutes. Alvarez looks like a strong option for anytime goalscorer or assist bets in future matches.