HIGHLIGHTS | Atlético de Madrid 1-1 Celta Vigo

Atlético Madrid wasted a golden opportunity to go top in LaLiga as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by visitors Celta Vigo on Saturday. The home crowd had barely settled into their seats when the match took a dramatic turn, as Atlético found themselves down to 10 men in just the fourth minute. Midfielder Pablo Barrios received a straight red card for a reckless studs-up challenge on Pablo Durán, a decision that left Atlético facing an uphill battle for the remainder of the game. It was a moment of deja vu for Barrios, who had been sent off for a similar challenge on Jeremie Frimpong during Atlético's 2-1 Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen just three weeks earlier.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Atlético showed resilience, reorganizing their defensive structure and looking to strike on the counterattack. They managed to keep Celta at bay for much of the first half, with Jan Oblak making crucial saves to deny Fernando López and Durán, both of whom tested the Atlético goalkeeper with powerful efforts. The visitors enjoyed the lion's share of possession, but Atlético remained a threat on the break, with Giuliano Simeone and Julián Álvarez squandering golden opportunities to put the home side ahead.

The second half saw Celta increase their attacking intensity, determined to capitalize on their numerical superiority. Their persistence finally paid off in the 68th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Robin Le Normand carelessly stamped on Borja Iglesias's foot inside the box. Substitute Iago Aspas stepped up to the spot and rifled an unstoppable strike into the top corner, leaving Oblak with no chance. The goal sent the visiting supporters into raptures and left Atlético scrambling for an answer as they stared at a potential defeat.

With time running out, Diego Simeone turned to his bench, making three crucial substitutions in an effort to inject fresh energy into his side. His changes paid off handsomely, as Alexander Sørloth came off the bench and made an instant impact. Just three minutes after entering the fray, the Norwegian striker controlled a long ball on his chest, muscled past defender Carl Starfelt, and unleashed a half-volley from the edge of the box that nestled into the bottom corner. The Wanda Metropolitano erupted as Atlético salvaged a crucial point, ensuring they remained firmly in the title race.

Real Madrid currently lead the standings with 51 points after their 1-1 draw against Osasuna earlier in the day, with Atlético just one point behind in second place. Meanwhile, Barcelona, who have a game in hand, sit in third with 48 points and will take on Rayo Vallecano on Monday. The title race remains finely poised, with all three teams vying for supremacy as the season progresses.

Reflecting on the result, Atlético captain Koke acknowledged the difficulty of playing almost the entire match with a man down but took pride in his team's determination. "When you are down to 10 men so early, it's very difficult," Koke told DAZN. "The team tried everything, we defended well, and we knew how to endure suffering. Sure, we wanted to take advantage of Real's draw with a win here, but we'll take the point. It isn't that bad as we're still in the fight for the title."

As the battle for LaLiga supremacy intensifies, Atlético will need to regroup quickly and address their discipline issues to avoid further setbacks. With pivotal fixtures on the horizon, including crucial clashes against direct rivals, they cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to reclaim the top spot and push for the championship.