Atlético Madrid title pursuit stalled by late Real Madrid equaliser

Image Source : AP Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema scores his facet’s opening objective in the course of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid on the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 7
Atlético Madrid conceded late to Real Madrid to attract 1-1 on Sunday and go away the league leaders at larger danger of being caught of their pursuit of the Spanish title.
Karim Benzema, again within the Madrid squad after an damage layoff, scored within the 87th minute after Luis Suárez’s early objective for Atlético on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Atlético was in management a lot of the match and squandered a number of possibilities so as to add to its lead, paying the worth ultimately and losing its alternative to extend its benefit on the prime of the league.
The draw saved Diego Simeone’s staff 5 factors in entrance of Madrid and solely three factors forward of second-place Barcelona, which gained 2-0 at Osasuna on Saturday. Atlético has a recreation in hand over each Madrid and Barcelona.
Atlético is attempting to win its first league title since 2014. Either Barcelona or Madrid have gained the title each season since then.
Atlético hasn’t crushed Madrid in 10 straight league matches — since 2016 — with 5 losses and 5 attracts. It misplaced 2-0 at Madrid within the groups’ earlier encounter final 12 months.
Madrid, coming off a disappointing house draw towards Real Sociedad, had gained three in a row towards Atlético in all competitions.
The match was performed with out followers however there was a big gathering of Atlético supporters outdoors the stadium earlier than and in the course of the recreation. Their chants and objective celebration after Suárez scored might be heard contained in the venue.
They have been loudly heard close to the top of the match when Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak made two excellent close-range saves off consecutive makes an attempt by Benzema. Oblak additionally stopped the striker’s free kick try a number of moments later.
He could not cease Benzema within the closing minutes, although, because the striker discovered the web from close to the penalty spot after a go by Casemiro in one of many few errors by the Atlético protection throughout the complete match.
Atlético began the sport urgent ahead and opened the scoring in a breakaway within the fifteenth minute. Suárez discovered the far nook with the surface of his proper foot whereas going through Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois inside the realm after a go from Marcos Llorente.

Suárez, Atlético’s main scorer with 17 objectives, hadn’t discovered the web in 5 video games in all competitions. The 34-year-old Uruguay striker who joined from Barcelona this season moved inside two objectives of Messi, the league’s scoring chief this season.
Madrid tried to realize management within the second half however it was Atlético that saved threatening essentially the most in counterattacks, squandering a number of good scoring possibilities.
Madrid remained with out the injured captain Sergio Ramos, whereas Atlético had the return of defender Kieran Trippier after he accomplished a 10-game ban for breaking betting guidelines.
Atlético was coming off two consecutive setbacks within the league at house — it misplaced 2-0 to Levante and drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo.
Madrid, in the meantime, had gained 4 away matches in a row in all competitions, together with 1-0 at Atalanta within the first leg of the spherical of 16 of the Champions League. Atlético misplaced 1-0 to Chelsea in its first leg within the European competitors.
Atlético hadn’t scored within the final three league derbies towards Madrid, since Antoine Griezmann’s objective in early 2019. It has by no means gone 4 matches and not using a objective towards its rival.
Madrid has by no means misplaced in 4 visits to Atlético’s Metropolitano stadium within the league. It is the one league staff unbeaten there.
The draw saved Simeone from breaking Luis Aragonés’ membership report of 308 wins as a coach.
THRILLER IN HUESCA
Fran Beltrán scored a 76th-minute winner as Celta Vigo beat last-place Huesca 4-3 after twice squandering the lead.
Celta moved to eighth place, whereas Huesca stayed 4 factors from security.