Atletico Madrid 2-2 Celta Vigo: Suarez double not enough for Simeone’s side

Atletico Madrid were denied the opportunity to restore their 10-point lead at the LaLiga summit after Facundo Ferreyra’s 89th-minute equaliser sealed an unlikely 2-2 draw for Celta Vigo on Monday.

Wins for Real Madrid and Barcelona over the weekend put the pressure on Diego Simeone’s men, who lost Thomas Lemar and Hector Herrera shortly before kick-off after positive COVID-19 tests were confirmed.

They started poorly at the Wanda Metropolitano and slipped behind to Santi Mina’s third top-flight goal of the season, but Luis Suarez levelled matters in the 45th minute with a simple finish at the back post.

The former Barcelona striker repeated the trick five minutes after the interval, but Los Rojiblancos were denied a ninth consecutive top-flight win when Ferreyra – a debutant from the bench – scrambled in from close range late on.

The hosts were stunned after 13 minutes when Mina met Hugo Mallo’s right-wing cross with a diving header from six yards that flashed past Jan Oblak.

Simeone’s men struggled to get a foothold in the game after that, with Ruben Blanco comfortably keeping out Renan Lodi’s effort from outside the penalty area.

The leaders restored parity on the stroke of half-time, though, Suarez stealing in at the back post to prod home Marcos Llorente’s low ball across the face of goal for his 15th LaLiga goal of the campaign.

Suarez grabbed his second in the 50th minute, sliding in unmarked to steer Lodi’s superb volleyed cross past Blanco from six yards.

Only a superb last-ditch tackle from Geoffrey Kondogbia denied Iago Aspas an equaliser soon after as Celta pushed forward in numbers.

Atleti looked set for another three points on their march towards the title but Ferreyra – who joined the club on transfer deadline day from Benfica – marked his debut by bundling home Augusto Solari’s cross with just a minute remaining to steal a surprise point.