Atletico held 1-1 at Betis, edges 1 level away from Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid stumbled once more in its bid to win a primary Spanish league title in seven seasons after drawing 1-1 at Real Betis on Sunday, leaving it narrowly forward of second-place Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Yannick Carrasco put Atletico forward 5 minutes into the match in Seville. But Cristian Tello struck again for Betis within the twentieth, and the struggling front-runners wanted goalkeeper Jan Oblak to make a number of saves to guard some extent.
Diego Simeone’s facet edged one level forward of defending champion Real Madrid, which had gone high _ on the head-to-head tiebreaker with Atletico _ after it beat Barcelona 2-1 on Saturday. Barcelona is in third place, an additional level behind.
Atletico had led Madrid by 11 factors at one stage after its very robust first half of the season. But Diego Simeone’s staff has struggled in 2021, successful simply two of its final six league matches
It now can’t afford any additional setbacks over the ultimate eight rounds of the season.
“We started the season strong, while Madrid and Barcelona had troubles. Now we are struggling while Madrid is coming on strong after its big win, and Barcelona is right there,” Simeone stated. “I love this stage of the season. It is decisive, it is exciting. We wanted to be here at the top, fighting against the best.”
DEPLETED ATTACK
Atletico went into the match with out Luis Suarez, its high scorer, and versatile midfielder Marcos Llorente. They have been each suspended after choosing up a fifth reserving in final spherical’s 1-0 loss at Sevilla. Backup striker Moussa Dembele was nonetheless unavailable after he misplaced consciousness in coaching two weeks in the past.
The guests’ assault received even thinner moments into the second half when Joao Felix requested to be substituted. He had tried to play on after he damage his proper ankle simply moments earlier than halftime.
Suarez, Llorente and Felix have mixed for 39 of Atletico’s 59 objectives in all competitions this season.
Atletico additionally misplaced its attack-minded proper again Kieran Trippier with 12 minutes left after he took a tough knock to his decrease again.
Simeone stated that Felix was already being bothered by ache earlier than he went down, including that he hoped the Portugal playmaker can be match for subsequent weekend’s recreation in opposition to Eibar.
Suarez’s availability for that recreation may be unsure after he injured a left-leg muscle throughout apply this week.

MISSED CHANCES
Carrasco scored the early opener after Felix broke down the protection with two fast, brief passes in a decent house. Angel Correa compelled Aissa Mandi to dam his shot from shut up, and the ball fell to Carrasco to complete off with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo off his line.
Betis quickly responded when Tello got here in from the left flank to the middle of the realm the place he was unmarked to drive in a cross from Alex Moreno.
Without Felix to assist direct Atletico’s assault, Betis took the initiative after halftime. Emerson, Sergio Canales and substitute Diego Lainez all examined Oblak.
Atletico’s Correa did muster two late possibilities because the Betis protection flagged in stoppage time, just for Bravo to parry each his makes an attempt.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis, which has come on robust because the winter break, remained in sixth place with solely two losses in its final 14 league video games.
“I am not satisfied with the draw,” Pellegrini stated. “We had three or four chances to put this away. We were superior in the second half, but lacked precision in our finishing.”

DEFENDER ATTACKS
Defender Gabriel Paulista earned a penalty and scored Valencia’s equalizer to assist his staff erase a two-goal deficit and draw 2-2 with Real Sociedad.
Daniel Wass pulled one again from the penalty spot within the sixtieth minute after Paulista was fouled by Carlos Fernandez within the space.
Paulista leveled the rating within the 73rd when he headed in a cross from Goncalo Guedes.
Valencia performed the ultimate 10 minutes with 10 males after Maxi Gomez received a second yellow card.
It was the primary recreation for Valencia since Mouctar Diakhaby stated he was racially abused by Cadiz participant Juan Cala who has denied any wrongdoing.
Diakhaby performed the whole recreation on Sunday.

GOALS, FINALLY
Osasuna ended a run of 4 video games with out scoring in a 2-1 win at Villarreal.
Jon Moncayola ended his staff’s drought with an excellent volley within the sixty fourth. After David Garcia scored an own-goal to make it 1-1, Osasuna striker Ante Budimir headed the guests again in entrance.
Also, Jorge Molina and Quini Marin scored late to present Granada a 2-1 comeback win at Valladolid.