Last-gasp own goal rescues Atletico Madrid for Villarreal draw
Aissa Mandi’s last-minute own goal rescued a point for Atletico Madrid in their 2-2 draw with Villarreal at the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday. The reigning champions appeared on course for a first home defeat since February after substitute Arnaut Danjuma gave the visitors a 2-1 lead. But Diego Simeone’s men snatched a share of the […]
Aissa Mandi’s last-minute own goal rescued a point for Atletico Madrid in their 2-2 draw with Villarreal at the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday.
The reigning champions appeared on course for a first home defeat since February after substitute Arnaut Danjuma gave the visitors a 2-1 lead.
But Diego Simeone’s men snatched a share of the spoils in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Mandi unwittingly diverted Saul’s long ball beyond Geronimo Rulli.
Luis Suarez had earlier cancelled out Manu Trigueros’ effort as both sides maintained their unbeaten starts to the season.
Aiming to make it three wins from three, Simeone’s side carried the greater attacking threat during the first half with their opponents unable to register a shot on goal.
In spite of 13 attempts themselves, the hosts could not break the deadlock.
They went close when Rulli tipped Thomas Lemar’s fierce first-time shot onto the post in the 23rd minute.
Meanwhile, Mandi twice came to the visitors’ rescue with last-gasp interventions to deny Yannick Carrasco and Kieran Trippier on his own goal-line.
Having absorbed all that pressure, Unai Emery’s men took a shock lead seven minutes after the restart with Trigueros firing home following a great run and lay-off by Yeremi Pino.
The visitors were pegged back four minutes later.
Atletico Madrid robbed them of possession near the corner-kick flag, before Correa teed up Suarez for a first-time finish to equalise.
They regained their advantage in the 74th minute.
Following a lack of communication between Stefan Savic and Jose Gimenez, Pino pounced and provided the assist for Danjuma’s emphatic finish.
But the Yellow Submarine could not hold on and, with virtually the last kick of the game, Mandi inadvertently turned Saul’s hopeful ball beyond Rulli.
Results and standings Spanish Primera Division:
| Friday | |||
| RCD Mallorca | 1 | Espanyol | 0 |
| Valencia | 3 | Alaves | 0 |
| Saturday | |||
| Celta Vigo | 0 | Athletic Bilbao | 1 |
| Elche | 1 | Sevilla | 1 |
| Real Sociedad | 1 | UD Levante | 0 |
| Real Betis | 0 | Real Madrid | 1 |
| Sunday | |||
| FC Barcelona | 2 | Getafe | 1 |
| Cadiz | 2 | Osasuna | 3 |
| Rayo Vallecano | 4 | Granada | 0 |
| Atletico Madrid | 2 | Villarreal | 2 |
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
| 1 | Real Madrid | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 | Sevilla | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | Valencia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Barcelona | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | Atletico Madrid | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | RCD Mallorca | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 7 | Real Sociedad | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| 8 | Osasuna | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 9 | Athletic Bilbao | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 10 | Rayo Vallecano | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 11 | Villarreal | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | Cadiz | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 13 | UD Levante | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 14 | Real Betis | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 15 | Elche | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 16 | Espanyol | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 17 | Granada | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| 18 | Celta Vigo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 19 | Getafe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | Alaves | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
