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High price for Atletico after heavy defeat in Villarreal

Xinhua, December 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Atletico Madrid' s 3-0 defeat away to Villarreal on Monday night was not only a disappointment in terms of another below par performance from Diego Simeone' s side, the defeat also saw Tiago Cardoso and Jan Oblak suffer injuries that could keep them out of action until the new year.

Tiago had to leave the pitch after suffering a relapse of the injury to his right knee, which has sidelined him for so long already this season.

The injury happened moments after a weak back-pass from the Portuguese midfielder had set up Manu Trigueros for Vilarreal' s opening goal early in the game.

Curiously, Oblak' s injury came after the Slovenian goalkeeper had made the mistake which allowed Jonathan Dos Santos to put Villarreal 2-0 up on the 38th minute of the game.

Oblak failed to hold a cross and in trying to recover, he fell awkwardly dislocating his left shoulder. The goalkeeper was immediately taken to hospital for tests which confirmed the injury and he will be out of action for around a month.

Atletico were second best against a Villarreal side that had not won or scored a goal in its last three games and the defeat effectively ends their chances of challenging for the Spanish League title this season given that they have fallen down to sixth place in the table and are now 12 points behind league leaders, Real Madrid.

There was a further blow to their hopes on Monday night as well as striker Angel Correa was shown his fifth yellow card of the season and he will be suspended for Saturday' s match at home to Las Palmas. Endit