La Liga: Atletico Madrid’s title defence in shambles after yet another draw

Atletico Madrid’s disappointments continued in the La Liga
as defending champions fell further behind on the points table after drawing
2-2 at second-to-last-place Levante on Thursday.

The Roja Blancos had a chance to join the group of teams
tied for the second place if they had managed to beat Levante away from home but the team
threw away their lead twice in Valencia. Diego Simeone’s men struggled in
attack despite starting with Luis Suárez, Antoine Griezmann, and João Félix upfront.

Griezmann and substitute Matheus Cunha put Atlético ahead
but two penalty kicks converted by Enis Bardhi leveled the match for the hosts.

The first penalty came after a foul by Suárez, while the
second came after a video review saw a handball by defender Renan Lodi after a
cross into the area.

Atlético was coming off a 2-2 draw at home against Real Sociedad.
It dropped to sixth place with 19 points from 10 matches, five points off the
lead with a game in hand.

Levante, which had lost four of its last five matches,
remained one of the two teams yet to win this season, along with Getafe. It has
six points from six draws in 11 matches.

Atlético coach Simeone was sent off with two yellow cards
for complaining to the referee.

Levante defender Rober Pier was sent off after the final
whistle, also with a second yellow for complaining.

“It was a tough match for us. We are not happy with the draw
but we have to keep working,” Cunha, who scored his first goal since joining
Atlético this season, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

On the other hand, Real Sociedad kept up their impressive
run in the Spanish League after breaking the four-way tie at the top of the
league with a 2-0 win at Celta Vigo