Atlético de Madrid drew 2-2 at the Levante field, which came back with a double from Enis Bardhi, this Thursday in the 11th day of LaLiga, which Real Sociedad dominates alone after winning 2-0 at the Celta stadium.
French striker Antoine Griezmann put Atlético ahead (12), Bardhi equalized from a penalty (37), Cunha made it 2-1 (76) and Bardhi repeated another penalty to make it 2-2 (90), which Atlético left in the 6th league position.
“We have to improve, urgently, yes, urgent,” said Diego Simeone after the game, insisting that “we do not have to excuse ourselves for the referee’s performance, we have to work, we have to improve.”
The rojiblanco coach, who ended up expelled (80), opted from the outset on the trident formed by Joao Félix, Luis Suárez and Griezmann.
The Portuguese warned with a shot from the front (5), but it was the Frenchman who advanced his team with a header from the goal (12).
With the score in favor, Atlético went from having the ball to waiting in their field for Levante, forced to go towards the goal defended by Jan Oblak in search of a tie.
The locals began to reach more and after a shot by Costa Rican Óscar Duarte (27), Luis Suárez knocked down Rubén Vezo in the area causing a penalty that Bardhi (37) transformed, putting the tie.
– Bardhi double –
In the second half, the rojiblancos improved with the entry of Argentine Rodrigo de Paul (59), who assisted Cunha so that the Brazilian unleashed a cross shot making it 2-1 (76).
Again ahead on the scoreboard, the rojiblancos sought to control the match, but a hand from Lodi in the area was the second penalty, which Bardhi transformed again (90) putting the tie, which leaves Atlético five points behind the outstanding leader , Real Sociedad, which on Thursday beat Celta 2-0 as a visitor.
The goals of Alexander Isak (54) and Aritz Elustondo (80) gave victory to Real, to top the league table with three points of advantage over Real Madrid, second classified and that on Wednesday had equaled 0-0 at home with the Osasuna (7th).
“The games are decided in the areas and we have been more successful, for which Matt (Ryan) has stopped and because we have gotten some of our chances,” Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said after the game.
The Basque team ended up imposing its punch in a match dominated by Celta, but whose numerous occasions were met with the good performance of Real goalkeeper Matthew Ryan.
The Australian goalkeeper cleared a double consecutive shot from Denis Suárez and Santi Mina (44) to corner and reappeared with another double stop to a shot from Iago Aspas and the next header from Santi Mina, taking advantage of his first rebound (57) .
– Isak leads the way –
Faced with Celta’s lack of effectiveness, Isak took advantage of a rejection from the sky-blue goalkeeper Matías Dituro to make it 1-0 (54).
Celta, who registered their third defeat in the last four games, continued attacking in search of a draw under the heavy rain that fell on Balaídos, but what came was a goal from Aritz Elustondo (80), who touched after a shot from Mikel Merino from a corner kick (80).
In the last game, bottom line Getafe continued without knowing the victory this season, since it was winning until in the final discount he saw how Granada drew 1-1.
The ‘Geta’ went ahead with a goal from Enes Unal (37), but in the last minute of discount Jorge Molina equalized for Granada (90 + 7) keeping the Madrid team at the bottom of the table with just 3 points, achieved in three draws. (AFP)