Las Palmas Hand Atlético Madrid an Unforgettable Blow
When you're battling to stay in LaLiga, hope is often in short supply. But at the Estadio Gran Canaria, Las Palmas turned desperation into something special—snatching a 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid with the last kick of the game. The hero was Javi Muñoz, who found the net in the 94th minute, setting off wild celebrations on the island and sending shockwaves through the Spanish football world.
Atlético, chasing Barcelona at the top, came into the match as heavy favorites. Las Palmas, sitting in 18th, looked set for a grim fight just to survive. But football can be cruel, and nobody felt that more than Atlético as their night unraveled in stoppage time. A messy scramble in front of Jan Oblak’s goal ended with Muñoz poking the ball across the line. VAR took a close look, but the goal stood, confirming a result that’s bound to sting in Madrid for a long while.
Atlético Fall Short Despite Control and Firepower
It wasn’t for lack of trying. From the opening whistle, Atlético dominated possession, pinging passes around with little pressure. But control doesn’t mean goals. Alexander Sørloth shook his head in disbelief after missing a gilt-edged header, while Giuliano Simeone sent a shot harmlessly wide when he should have at least forced a save. Manager Diego Simeone tried to freshen things up, bringing on attacking stars Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata late in the second half, but Las Palmas simply refused to break.
Down the other end, Las Palmas didn’t create much, but they didn’t need to. Their plan was simple: frustrate, defend, and wait for a chance. Goalkeeper Dinko Horkas was equal to the task whenever Atlético did test him, keeping his cool with a series of vital saves that kept the dream alive.
The backbone of Las Palmas’ resistance? Stefan Bajcetic. The young midfielder-turned-defender was everywhere, hoovering up loose balls, blocking shots, and shutting down Atlético’s attacks before they became dangerous. He earned Man of the Match for his display, and it was well-deserved—without him, this result simply wouldn’t have happened.
The loss marks the first time since 1980 that Atlético Madrid have dropped back-to-back away matches in the league. For a team with title ambitions, that’s an ugly stat. Instead of closing the gap at the top, Atlético now find themselves trailing Barcelona by even more, and with time running out, their dreams look all but over.
Meanwhile, Las Palmas’ win takes them out of the bottom three and into 17th place. For fans who feared another long season of struggle, this was a beacon of hope. If they survive, they’ll remember this night—and that late, late winner—as the turning point.