LaLiga: Atletico Madrid's Winless Streak Continues with 1-1 Draw at Espanyol

Espanyol battled back to earn a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid, denting the visitors' title aspirations. Catch up on the latest LaLiga news.

Atlético Madrid's dismal March continued unabated as Diego Simeone's team squandered a valuable lead, settling for a 1-1 draw against Espanyol in Barcelona. This disappointing result has all but extinguished Atlético's faint hopes of claiming the LaLiga title.

Espanyol boasted an impressive unbeaten run of eight LaLiga home matches prior to the encounter at the RCDE Stadium, their longest such streak since January 2017. Given Atlético's recent struggles, including two consecutive league defeats and a Champions League elimination at the hands of arch-rivals Real Madrid, Espanyol were optimistic about their chances of securing a positive result.

Marcos Llorente nearly disrupted Espanyol's positive trend in the third minute, but his goal was disallowed for offside. The subsequent half-hour was largely forgettable, with the only notable moment being Antoine Griezmann's free-kick, which was blocked by the defensive wall.

The match took a significant turn when Robin Le Normand was forced off due to a head clash with Roberto Fernandez. However, Atletico Madrid soon found their rhythm, eventually breaking the deadlock 10 minutes before halftime. A well-executed interchange on the right flank led to a cross into the box, which Alexander Sorloth headed back to the edge of the area under pressure. The ball fell perfectly for Cesar Azpilicueta, who unleashed a powerful shot into the top-left corner of the Espanyol net, showcasing his trademark precision.

Atletico Madrid's momentum was boosted by Cesar Azpilicueta's goal, his first since April 2022. The team should have extended their lead five minutes into the second half, but Alexander Sorloth narrowly missed the target.

Espanyol, determined to turn the game around, made a double substitution, which nearly paid off when Javi Puado delivered a cross into the box, finding Alejo Veliz, who was unable to get a clear shot off due to the Atletico defense. However, Espanyol's persistence eventually led to an equalizing opportunity.

The turning point came when Clement Lenglet was penalized for fouling Leandro Cabrera in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Javi Puado took the spot-kick, powering the ball past Jan Oblak's outstretched glove and into the roof of the net, despite the Slovenian goalkeeper guessing correctly. This equalizer dealt a significant blow to Atletico's title hopes.

FT: #EspanyolAtleti 1-1

🟰 @RCDEspanyol_EN and @atletienglish draw at the RCDE Stadium!#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/V62G97YVe4

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 29, 2025

Although the goal was a setback for Atletico, their fans drew hope from the fact that 17 of their goals prior to the match had come after the 75th minute. All eyes were on Antoine Griezmann to make a late impact, and he did have a chance to score 10 minutes from time. However, his first-time low shot was thwarted by Joan Garcia, ensuring the match ended in a draw.

The draw is likely to prove fatal to Atletico's title aspirations, especially with Barcelona expected to extend their lead to nine points in the upcoming match. Espanyol, meanwhile, remain embroiled in the relegation battle and could potentially drop to 18th place by the end of the weekend.