15th January, 2023
Atletico Madrid failed to make up any significant ground on 2022/2023 Spanish La Liga’s top three as their struggles continued with a 1-1 draw at Almeria.
Diego Simeone’s side has often struggled in this part of Andalusia and so it proved again on Sunday, in spite of Angel Correa’s 18th-minute opening goal.
Atletico Madrid would have been two in front if not for Geoffrey Kondogbia, who got a touch to Marcos Llorente’s goal-bound effort for the strike to be ruled out for offside.
El Bilal Toure headed in soon after and Almeria saw out the draw.
It was a result that leaves fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, who had Sergio Reguilon sent off late on, 13 points adrift of leaders FC Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid took the lead after Antoine Griezmann dummied Kondogbia’s pass for Correa to collect and tuck through the legs of Fernando Martinez.
Llorente’s shot 14 minutes later appeared to be heading for the net without the need for any intervention, but Kondogbia turned it in from an offside position.
Kondogbia’s misjudgment proved costly in the 37th minute when Toure powered a diving header past Jan Oblak after meeting Lucas Robertone’s right-sided cross.
Correa and Alvaro Morata should have done better with efforts that were kept out by Martinez, with the latter also heading wide from a glorious position.
Atletico Madrid substitute Reguilon was sent off in the closing stages after receiving two yellow cards in the space of four minutes.
It all meant Atletico Madrid’s disappointing run of form stretched to just one win in six league matches.
The Colchoneros have now won just one of their seven away La Liga matches against Almeria.
Almeria’s tally of five home wins this term is bettered by only two teams in the league.
While the draw has dragged Atletico Madrid back into the top four, they are seven points behind third-placed Real Sociedad.
They are therefore in a real battle to qualify for the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League.
Atletico Madrid now travel to Levante for a Copa del Rey last-16 tie on Wednesday, while mid-table Almeria are away at Valencia in their next LaLiga outing in eight days’ time.