A later header from striker Fernando Torres managed to get a point for Atletico Madrid in their 2-2 draw with Levante   

Mario Mandzukic and Miranda went close for the visitors in the first twenty minutes before David Barral gave Levante the lead but defender Guilherme Siqueira equalised moments later. Uche came close at the beginning of the second period before putting the home side back in the lead in the 63rd minute before a Torres header in the 80th minute made sure the points were shared.

Atlético came flying out of the traps within the first three minutes when Juanfran’s cross found the head of Mandzukic but keeper Marino got down well to save the shot. They came close again in the 18th minute when Miranda got his head to Koke’s corner-kick but his effort goes just wide.

However it was Levante who took the lead in the 32nd minute against the run of play, Ivan Lopez played it back across the face of goal where Barrai was waiting to tap it in from close range to claim his 11th La Liga goal of the campaign.

However their lead didn’t last long as Madrid were level three minutes after going behind, Tiago managed to get in front of an attempted clearance from the area before he flicked it up for Siqueira who hit a great volley into the bottom corner of the net.

Levante striker Uche had the first real opportunity of second half when he got his head onto the cross but it was straight at Petros Sotiriou. The striker made up for his earlier miss when he regained Levante’s lead in the 63rd minute, a ball into the box was missed by both the defender and Sotiriou; Uche was alive to the situation to tap it in from very close range.

Atletico continued to push for a second equaliser and they got it with just ten minutes to play, a corner to near post from Koke was met by the substitute Torres who had an easy header into the bottom corner.

The final opportunity of the match fell to Antoine Griezmann, the Frenchman tried to put into Torres at the back post but his ball while falling over was just too high and the chance for a winner was lost.

This was a good point for Levante after the 3-0 defeat against Real Sociedad last week threw them straight back into the relegation battle after two consecutive victories and a point against the current champions will go a long way to helping them secure their top flight status for another season.

Atletico’s great run of form in La Liga continues with that draw being their 13th game without defeat but they had to work hard for the point and that record could have been easily finished. Despite their disappointment of not gaining the victory that point has all but secured their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League and the mission will now be to finish the season as strongly as possible.