Atletico Madrid’s Norwegian forward #09 Alexander Sorloth (R) celebrates scoring an equalizing goal with Atletico Madrid’s Spanish midfielder #14 Marcos Llorente (L) during the Spanish league football match between Villarreal CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at La Ceramica stadium in Vila-real on August 19, 2024 [Credit: AFP]
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid began their La Liga campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Villarreal on Monday.
The Rojiblancos, who revamped their squad over the summer after finishing fourth last season, had to settle for a point at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, twice coming from behind.
Alvaro Morata, Stefan Savic, Memphis Depay, and others have departed, while Atletico brought in Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth, and Robin Le Normand, who all made their debuts.
The latter two started on Spain’s east coast, with Norwegian striker Sorloth scoring the goal that earned his team a point.
“I think we played a good game. We had some individual areas where we need to improve, but as a group, we were committed,” said Simeone.
Villarreal took the lead through Arnaut Danjuma in the 18th minute. The forward, starting his team’s La Liga opener after loan spells at Tottenham and Everton, beat Axel Witsel for pace to run onto a pass, then worked some space to squeeze a low shot across the goal into the far corner.
Atletico responded instantly, scoring just over a minute later when Antoine Griezmann played in Marcos Llorente, who rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
Samuel Lino hit the post for the visitors before Villarreal moved ahead again when Jan Oblak failed to claim a cross, and the ball bounced in off the unfortunate Koke.
Atletico levelled through Sorloth, who nodded home against his former side in first-half stoppage time. His header squirmed under goalkeeper Diego Conde, who should have kept it out.
Former Manchester City striker Alvarez, who signed for an estimated 85 million euros (£72 million), made his Atletico debut in the final stages, with the second half evenly contested.
New Villarreal signing Nicolas Pepe hit the crossbar with a looping free-kick late on, but the teams could not be separated.
“We conceded very quickly, too easily, and that gives you an uphill struggle.
“We got back level, which is the hard part, but then let in another goal. When you concede two, it’s very hard to turn the game around, and we didn’t do it today,” Atletico midfielder Llorente told Movistar.
AFP
