Atlético Madrid has again lost expensive points in LaLiga. A day after Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Barcelona, Diego Simeone’s team got no further than a 1-1 draw in the away game against Real Betis. Atlético remains the leader of the Spanish league, but the lead over city rivals Real Madrid is only one point. Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona has only two points less. In LaLiga, eight more match days are scheduled.
In a balanced first half, Betis and Atlético were evenly matched and the Simeone team struck after just a few minutes of play. After a wonderful pass from Joao Félix on the edge of the penalty area, Ángel Correa did not get past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, but it was Yannick Ferreira Carrasco who still worked the ball against the ropes from close range: 0-1.
Hold back, tap in, Carrasco puts Atleti ahead early ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #RealBetisAtleti pic.twitter.com/T1PB9stWKb
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 11, 2021
Betis had trouble coming up with an answer to the early damper, but Jan Oblak’s first real chance in the goal area was also hit immediately after twenty minutes. Joaquin delivered the ball to the left to Alex Moreno, who passed the ball in one go and then Cristian Tello also shot the ball in the right corner in one go: 1-1. In the remainder of the first half, Betis and Atlético divided the predominance and chances, but the teams of Simeone and Manuel Pellegrini did not get the scoreboard moving again.
For Joao Félix, the game was over just after the start of the second half. The playmaker had ankle complaints from a duel with Aissa Mandi just before half-time and soon realized after the restart that he could not continue. Atlético, with Lucas Torreira as a substitute, struggled to get comfortable in the second half and most of the danger came from Betis. After a corner from Nabil Fekir, Oblak turned a header from Emerson, who not much later saw how Joaquin just fell short to cash in on his cross.
Simeone’s concerns increased as the final signal approached, partly because Kieran Trippier was also injured. With a great reflex, Oblak prevented a shot from Diego Lainez from disappearing into his goal. In the extra time, Bravo did not allow Correa to unbalance the match from close by. Atlético, which lost 1-0 in and against Sevilla a week ago, continues to perform unsteadily. A home game with Eibar awaits in a week, while Real Madrid will visit local Getafe. Four days later, that is also the opponent of Barcelona, which first plays the cup final against Athletic Club on Saturday.