SOCCER: Atletico and Real Sociedad share spoils after lively 1-1 draw

SAN SEBASTIAN – Atletico Madrid were held to an entertaining 1–1 draw at Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday, with Goncalo Guedes cancelling out Alexander Sorloth’s opener just five minutes into the second half at Anoeta Stadium.

The draw saw Atletico lose further ground in the title race, leaving them fourth with 38 points, level with third-placed Villarreal, who have two games in hand, but 11 points behind leaders Barcelona.

Real Sociedad climbed to 15th with 18 points, two clear of the relegation zone, in an encouraging first game under new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.

“We’re not happy; we wanted the three points,” Atletico forward Giuliano Simeone said. “I think they outplayed us in the first half in terms of intensity. They were very aggressive in their pressing, and we didn’t know how to break them down. We started the second half differently. We had chances, but it wasn’t to be.”

In a high-tempo first half, Real briefly thought they had taken the lead in stoppage time when Sorloth turned a Carlos Soler free kick into his own net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Atletico struck five minutes after the restart when Simeone surged down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post, where the unmarked Sorloth headed home to give the visitors the lead.

Real hit back just five minutes later, with Guedes scoring a powerful strike following a swift counterattack. He swept home a precise cross from Takefusa Kubo after a well-worked move down the right flank.

Both sides had chances to snatch a late winner. Jan Oblak denied Kubo twice, Antoine Griezmann failed to convert a one-on-one against Alex Remiro, and Soler fired just wide in the dying moments.

“We prepared well. It’s a shame we didn’t get the win because on other days the opposition deserves more, but today we deserved more than them,” Kubo said. “Our fans noticed that the team is trying to change and move forward. We showed more desire than them.”

Atletico now face bitter rivals Real Madrid on Thursday in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals.

“This isn’t enough. We have to analyze our mistakes and improve,” Simeone added. “Now we have to rest. There’s not long to go until the next match. We have to focus on that match against Madrid.”

-Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters