Madrid: Luis Suarez continued his deadly run for Atletico Madrid by scoring twice on Monday but Celta Vigo debutant Facundo Ferreyra’s late equaliser in a 2-2 draw interrupted the La Liga leaders’ eight-game winning streak on Tuesday (January 9).
Atletico dropped points for the first time since losing to Real Madrid on December 12, and are currently on 51 points from 20 games, eight points clear of second-placed Barcelona and defending champions Real, with a match in hand on both teams.
Atletico were missing six players due to COVID-19, including record signing Joao Felix and fell behind on 13 minutes, thanks to a well-worked goal from Celta when Santi Mina ghosted into the box unmarked to turn home a cross from Hugo Mallo. In-form Suarez equalised for Atletico on the stroke of halftime, sliding in to meet a Marcos Llorente cross.
The Uruguayan scored a similar goal to put Atletico ahead on 50 minutes connecting a Renan Lodi ball to score his seventh goal in four league games. With this goal, Suarez’s lead increased at the top of the La Liga goalscoring charts with 16 goals, three more than that of former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, who currently is second to him.
“Suarez speaks for himself. With all the words we’ve said about him… Luis Suarez scores goals, he’s always done it, it isn’t news that he’s doing it now, “said Atletico manager Diego Simeone.
Celta had faded in the second half after a strong display before the break but pulled level in the 89th through Argentine forward Ferreyra, who had only been on the pitch for 13 minutes after joining the club earlier this month as a free agent.
“We have to try and win home games like this but we were not comfortable at all in the first half,” said Atletico captain Koke.
“We’ve conceded a lot of goals in the last few games but we have a great squad, great players and we’re going to keep thinking about the next game and now we’re focusing on our next game with Granada.”
Celta goalkeeper Mina said, “A good point. We have a bittersweet feeling because they equalised when we had total control of the game but we kept fighting and kept believing in ourselves.”
