Atletico Madrid had been held to an entertaining 1–1 draw at Actual Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday. Photograph: REUTERS
LONDON:
Atletico Madrid had been held to an entertaining 1–1 draw at Actual Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday, with Goncalo Guedes cancelling out Alexander Sorloth’s opener for the guests in a five-minute spell after the break at Anoeta Stadium.
The consequence noticed Atletico lose additional floor within the title race and left them fourth on 38 factors, stage with third-placed Villarreal, who’ve two video games in hand, however 11 factors adrift of leaders Barcelona.
Actual Sociedad climbed to fifteenth on 18 factors, two away from the relegation zone, in an encouraging first recreation beneath new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.
“We’re not glad, we needed the three factors,” Atletico ahead Giuliano Simeone mentioned.
“I believe they outplayed us within the first half when it comes to depth. They had been very aggressive of their urgent and we did not know break them down. We began the second half in another way. We had probabilities but it surely wasn’t to be.”
In a high-tempo first half, Actual briefly thought they’d taken the lead in stoppage time when Sorloth turned a Carlos Soler free kick into his personal web, just for the trouble to be dominated out for offside.
Regardless of the hosts’ strain, Atletico struck 5 minutes after the restart when Simeone surged down the best flank and delivered an excellent, pinpoint cross to the far publish, the place the unmarked Sorloth headed house at hand the guests the lead.
Actual hit again 5 minutes later when Guedes levelled with a strong strike after a swift counterattack, sweeping house a exact cross from Takefusa Kubo following a well-worked transfer down the best.
Either side had probabilities to grab a late winner, with Jan Oblak denying Kubo twice, Antoine Griezmann failing to transform a one-on-one in opposition to Alex Remiro and Soler firing simply broad within the dying moments.
“We ready nicely. It is a disgrace we did not get the win as a result of on different days the opposition deserves extra, however as we speak we deserved greater than them,” Kubo mentioned.
“Our followers observed that the crew is making an attempt to alter and transfer ahead. We confirmed extra need than them.”
Atletico subsequent face bitter rivals Actual Madrid on Thursday within the Spanish Tremendous Cup semi-finals.
“This is not sufficient. We have now to analyse our errors and enhance,” Simeone added.
“Now we have now to relaxation. There’s not lengthy to go till the subsequent match. We have now to concentrate on that match in opposition to Madrid.”
