By Atletico Madrid endured a frustrating night at the Metropolitano Stadium, failing to find the net despite 25 attempts on goal in a 0-0 draw against newly-promoted Espanyol in Wednesday’s Spanish league match. The result marks Atletico’s second draw in three matches to start the season, while Espanyol secured their first point since returning to the top tier.
Diego Simeone’s side thought they had broken the deadlock twice in the second half through Rodrigo Riquelme, including a goal deep into stoppage time. However, both efforts were disallowed due to offside decisions, compounding Atletico’s frustration.
“The team played very well but we lacked efficiency in front of the goal,” Simeone reflected post-match. “We got off to a strong start in the first half, but then there was a bit of a letdown. We tried until the end but the ball didn’t go in because of our lack of efficiency.”
The stalemate comes after Atletico’s convincing 3-0 victory over Girona on Sunday, which followed an opening day 2-2 draw at Villarreal. In contrast, Espanyol managed only one attempt on goal throughout the match, highlighting the home side’s dominance despite the scoreline.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win at Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday, making them the only team with three wins from three matches. Defending champions Real Madrid will aim for their second victory when they visit Las Palmas on Thursday, having drawn their opener 1-1 at Mallorca.
In other results, Athletic Bilbao secured their first win of the season with a 1-0 home victory over Valencia, leaving the visitors rooted to the bottom of the table after three consecutive losses. Alaves also celebrated their maiden win, coming from behind to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1 away, despite the hosts playing with ten men for most of the match following Mikel Oyarzabal’s 29th-minute red card.
The day’s action concluded with a goalless draw between promoted sides Valladolid and Leganes, as both teams continue to find their footing in the top flight.
As the league table begins to take shape, Atletico’s inability to convert chances against Espanyol may raise concerns for Simeone, particularly with challenging fixtures on the horizon. The team will be eager to rediscover their scoring touch and build momentum in the coming weeks to keep pace with their title rivals.
