The duel of the Diegos on opposite benches couldn’t have started in more entertaining fashion, as their respective sides had a go at each other from the very first minute, in a bid to better their contrasting positions in the La Liga table. Of the two, Espanyol displayed weakness off the ball, as they struggled to catch up with Atletico’s pace on the counter – and they went a man-down on the half-hour mark on account of Leandro Cabrera forcing Alvaro Morata to the ground as the last man standing.
Referee Juan Pulido hardly thought twice before pointing the Uruguayan straight to the dressing room. As expected, the Colchoneros saw more of the ball thereafter, but not before Morata thwarted a close-range header from the ensuing free-kick inches wide of the right post. Having conceded first in their last four away league games, Diego Martinez’s men looked close to making it five in a row, but held themselves tight until the half-time whistle, leaving everything to play for in the second period.
Driven by main man Antoine Griezmann in attack, Atletico bombarded the Espanyol goal in ruthless manner and came close with successive half-chances around the hour mark. Astonishingly, it was the Blanquiazules who opened the scoring for the first time in five away league matches via Sergi Darder’s superb volley from point-blank range that squeezed past Jan Oblak in the near post. Diego Simeone’s men had to wait a good 15 minutes before avenging the opener via substitute Joao Felix, who thumped in the leveler with a superb left-footed shot past a helpless Benjamin Lecomte.
Atlético were not able to get a second before full-time though, failing to extend their lead in third place over Real Betis and Osasuna. Despite avoiding a first head-to-head home defeat under Simeone since May 2018, the Colchoneros will loathe their missed chances that could have handed them an eighth win this campaign. In stark contrast, Espanyol will be proud of their resilience with the man disadvantage, as they register a league-high sixth draw this term.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Benjamin Lecomte (RCD Espanyol)
