Simeone lauds De Paul, Atletico Madrid trails Real Madrid after Villarreal draw

Atletico Madrid's manager Diego Simeone expressed pride in his players after they drew 1-1 with Villarreal, despite dominating the match. The team struggled to convert their control into a win, with Samuel Lino equalizing after Gerard Moreno's penalty opened the scoring for Villarreal. This result marks Atletico's second consecutive league match without a victory, causing them to lose their lead in LaLiga to Real Madrid, who are now one point ahead. Simeone highlighted Rodrigo De Paul’s crucial contributions during Atletico's recent form, praising his performance and importance to the team. Additionally, he acknowledged his son Giuliano's development as a player, emphasizing the need for continued improvement. Atletico remains second in LaLiga, with their focus solely on their upcoming matches, disregarding their rivals' results.