Simeone bemoans Atleti's away-day struggles after San Mames defeat

Diego Simeone admitted Atletico Madrid are struggling to replicate their performances at the Estadio Metropolitano away from home, following a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Club.

Alex Berenguer scored a sensational winner with five minutes of the 90 to play at San Mames, whipping a left-footed shot past Jan Oblak from outside the area.

Atletico have now lost back-to-back away games in the space of four days, having also gone down by a 3-1 scoreline against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Los Colchoneros are fourth in LaLiga with 31 points from 16 games, with their latest defeat seeing them slip nine points behind leaders Barcelona, who beat Real Betis 5-3 earlier on Saturday.

Atleti have taken 22 points from eight home games this season (seven wins, one draw), with Barca (24) the only team to earn more in LaLiga.

But they have only picked up nine on the road, with a record of two wins, three draws and three defeats.

Though Simeone wants to see that form improve, he pointed out that, with Atleti's away record only bettered by six teams, struggling away from home is normal.

"Teams at home are braver; It happens to almost everyone, it happens to most teams," he told reporters.

"We have our problems; it's the third game we have lost away. We try to have more attention in every away game to improve. Let's hope, as the games go on, we can improve."

Athletic bossed the underlying metrics, firing off 14 shots to Atletico's seven and also tallying more expected goals (xG) – 1.2 to 0.7.

"We had chances. I don't know if we had fewer or more than Athletic, but we did have clear chances to convert," Simeone continued. "They took advantage, and the game went their way.

"I don't think they had many scoring situations. We didn't generate too many either, but that one from Alexander Sorloth could have been a goal. I have to see it back."

On Berenguer's winner, Simeone said: "The play was so fast that I didn't identify what happened. 

"We will see what failure there was. It's a good shot; they took advantage of that situation of him being free, and the win was deserved for the very good goal they scored."

Atleti visit PSV in the Champions League on Tuesday, having taken nine points from their first five matches in Europe's premier club competition. They then host Valencia in LaLiga next Saturday.