Atlético de Madrid has failed to take advantage of the defeat of FC Barcelona to get closer to the podium. At the end of the 8th day of Liga, the men of Diego Simeone were held in check on the lawn of Celta Vigo (1-1), after a frustrating match where the Madrid can feed some regrets.
It all started well for the Colchoneros, who opened the scoring in the 6th minute thanks to a goal against his Starfelt camp, following a good action by Antoine Griezmann and Pablo Barrios. Atlético seemed launched on the same bases as during its demonstration against Real Madrid (5-2) the previous week. But the scenario changed before the break: Clément Lenglet, already warned, received a second yellow card and left his teammates to ten.
This expulsion forced Simeone to review all his game plan. To rebalance his team, the Argentinian technician made the decision difficult to replace Antoine Griezmann at halftime. The Frenchman, once again brilliant in the offensive animation, left the lawn visibly frustrated, but aware of the tactical imperatives.
Interestable aspas
Reduced to ten, the Madrilenians have undergone the growing pressure of Celta. And by dint of insisting, the Galicians ended up being rewarded: Iago Aspas, 38, equalized in the 68th minute, confirming that there remains a safe bet of the Spanish championship.
This draw prevents Atlético from capitalizing on the underperformance of Barça. The Colchoneros remain eight lengths from Real Madrid and six from FC Barcelona, a gap already substantial after eight days. For Simeone and his men, the trip to Vigo will leave a bitter taste: that of a missed opportunity in a liga where each point may count.
