Ten-man Espanyol battled to a 1-1 La Liga draw at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, one other disappointing consequence for Diego Simeone’s group days after they had been eradicated from European competitors.
Atletico, who’ve received solely considered one of their final six video games in all competitions, are third within the standings on 24 factors, eight behind Real Madrid who play Rayo Vallecano on Monday and 10 adrift of leaders Barcelona. Betis, on 23 factors, and Real Sociedad, on 22, have a recreation in hand and will leap forward of Atletico on the finish of Sunday.
Espanyol remained 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 pink card for a last-man foul on Alvaro Morata, Espanyol defended nicely in opposition to the house group who had 27 purpose makes an attempt in opposition to six from the guests.
Espanyol additionally made probably the most of their solely shot heading in the right direction within the second half when Sergi Darder was arrange by a Joselu header to volley house within the 66th minute. Substitute Joao Felix rescued a degree for Atletico within the 78th minute, slotting a exact shot into the underside nook following a counter-attack.
“We are not well, it’s not normal what’s happening to us,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak instructed DAZN. “It’s a result that doesn’t help at all. We tried but we are in a stuck in a hole that nothing seems to work. “Maybe it’s a psychological thing, when your mind is not right, the body doesn’t respond.” Atletico began strongly and pressed Espanyol who went all the way down to 10 males within the twenty eighth minute after Cabrera held Morata from behind when the striker was sprinting in direction of purpose.
But the hosts missed a number of possibilities falling to Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente, Morata, Angel Correa and Jose Maria Gimenez. Portugal striker Joao Felix, who has fallen out of favour with Simeone at instances this season, got here off the bench to attain and be Atletico’s greatest participant for the second consecutive league match.
He created the equalizer with good particular person play, working down the left channel to attain with an unstoppable strike and was twice denied by goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte
