Ten-man Espanyol battled to a 1-1 La Liga draw at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, one other disappointing consequence for Diego Simeone’s facet simply days after being pulled out of European competitors.
Atletico, who’ve gained solely certainly one of their final six matches in all competitions, are third within the standings with 24 factors, eight behind Real Madrid who play Rio Vallecano on Monday and 10 behind leaders Barcelona . Betis with 23 factors and Real Sociedad on 22 have a recreation in hand and will overtake Atletico on the finish of Sunday.
Espanyol completed sixteenth, one level away from the relegation zone.
Despite enjoying a lot of the match with 10 males after defender Leandro Cabrera was proven a straight purple card for a last-man foul on Alvaro Morata, Espanyol defended nicely towards the house workforce, scoring 27 objectives towards six from the guests. had tried to do.
Espanyol additionally scored his solely shot heading in the right direction within the second half when Sergi Darder was set off a volley dwelling by a Joselu header within the 66th minute. Substitute Joao Felix saved some extent for Atlético within the 78th minute, following a counter-attack with a precision shot into the underside nook.
“We are not well, it is not normal what is happening to us,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak advised DAZN. “It’s a result that doesn’t help at all. We tried but we’re stuck in a hole that nothing is working.” Maybe it is a psychological factor, when your thoughts is not proper. The physique does not react.” Atlético made a robust begin and pressed Espanyol, who went to 10 males after Cabrera caught Morata from behind within the twenty eighth minute because the striker was operating in the direction of aim.
But the hosts squandered many possibilities to fall by the hands of Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente, Morata, ngel Correa and Jose Maria Jiménez. Portugal striker Joao Felix, who has been at Simeone’s facet a number of occasions this season, got here off the bench to attain and have become Atletico’s greatest participant for a second consecutive league match.
He made the equalizer with an excellent particular person recreation, went down the left channel to attain with an unstoppable strike and was denied twice by goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
