Atletico Madrid’s frustrating start to the new LaLiga campaign continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted Elche at the Metropolitano on Saturday.
Diego Simeone’s side, beaten 2-1 by Espanyol on the opening weekend, once again surrendered an early lead to leave them with just a single point from their first two matches.
Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring inside eight minutes, latching onto David Hancko’s precise pass into the channel before calmly slotting past Matías Dituro.
But the advantage was short-lived. Just seven minutes later, Rafa Mir levelled for the visitors with a sharp finish to cap a rapid Elche counterattack.
Atletico thought they had regained the lead before half-time when Giuliano Simeone’s strike rattled the post, though the effort would have been ruled out for offside against Sørloth in the build-up.
The hosts dominated the second half but could not find a breakthrough.
Substitute Antoine Griezmann tested Dituro from distance, while Conor Gallagher went close after intercepting a poor clearance, his audacious attempt drifting narrowly wide of an open net.
Moments later, Marcos Llorente fired inches past the far post, though he appeared marginally offside.
Atletico continued to press, with Griezmann again denied late on, but frustration boiled over in stoppage time when Diego Simeone was booked for protesting a penalty appeal that was waved away.
Earlier in the day, Mallorca rescued a point at home with Mateu Morey’s late strike cancelling out Javi Rueda’s opener for Celta Vigo.
Later, attention turned to Barcelona’s trip to face promoted Levante in the evening fixture.
