Atlético concedes late, misses chance to increase its lead

Another outstanding night by Luis Suárez wasn’t enough to keep Atlético Madrid from missing a chance to increase its lead in the Spanish league.

An Atlético team depleted by the coronavirus conceded late in drawing with Celta Vigo 2-2 at home despite another Suárez double on Monday.

Facundo Ferreyra scored an 89th-minute equalizer for the visitors, who took an early lead before Suárez added to his scoring streak with a goal in each half. His league-leading tally was up to 16.

Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

The Uruguay striker, who arrived after being let go by Barcelona at the end of last season, has found the net seven times in his last four games.

The draw moved Atlético eight points clear of Barcelona and Real Madrid with a game in hand. The lead would have stayed at 10 points had it held on to the victory.

“We know that we have to win these games at home, and today we allowed them to equalize almost in the last play of the match,” Atlético captain Koke Resurrección said.

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente reacts during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

Atletico was missing several key players because of positive COVID-19 tests, including João Félix and Yannick Carrasco. Two new positive results were announced hours before the game at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, for Héctor Herrera and Thomas Lemar. Moussa Dembélé and Mario Hermoso also were out because of the virus.

Celta, winless in seven straight matches in all competitions, stayed in 10th place. It opened the scoring with a header by Santi Mina in the 13th.

The 34-year-old Suárez, who also missed a few matches after testing positive for the coronavirus, got his goals off his first two shots on target at Metropolitano.

Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez, left, controls the ball during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

“We have been conceding too many goals early in the matches,” Koke said. “We have to improve in that area if we want to keep fighting for the title.”

Atlético recently also had to come from behind against Eibar and Valencia. Simeone’s team has won every league match since losing at Real Madrid 2-0 in December, though it was eliminated by third-division club Cornellà in the second round of the Copa del Rey.

Atlético's next game is at eighth-placed Granada on Saturday. Celta hosts Elche on Friday.

Celta Vigo's players celebrates after scoring their opening goal during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

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Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez, center, controls the ball during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

Atletico Madrid's Felipe, left, fights for the ball with Celta Vigo's Hugo Mallo during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

Celta Vigo's Santi Mina, center, celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa, left, passes the ball in front of Celta Vigo's Brais Mendez during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

Celta Vigo's Santi Mina, left, celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal with his teammate Brais Mendez during a La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Celta at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (AP PhotoJose Breton)

Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 on Thursday to make sure Real Madrid will have to wait at least another week to celebrate the Spanish league title.

Barcelona's away victory reduced its gap to Madrid to 15 points, and it can further cut it to 12 points on Sunday if it defeats Rayo Vallecano at home in a game it has in hand.

Barcelona and Madrid, which won 3-1 at Osasuna on Wednesday, will have five games left. Madrid, trying to clinch its second title in three seasons, doesn’t play this weekend.

Barcelona's plaers celebrate after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, April 21, 2022. (AP PhotoAlvaro Barrientos)

“Madrid was lucky that it took a while for us to join the fight,” Barcelona defender Dani Alves said.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored with a close-range header in the 11th minute to give Barcelona its first win after consecutive home losses against Cádiz in the league and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League. The Catalan club had not lost two straight home games since 2003.

The victory against Sociedad left Barcelona tied on points with Sevilla, which defeated Levante earlier Thursday to stay in position to secure a Champions League place next season. Second place also is important as it guarantees a spot in the Spanish Super Cup.

Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, April 21, 2022. (AP PhotoAlvaro Barrientos)

“We suffered a lot but in the end we got three golden points and stayed in second place,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said. “It was an important victory even though we didn’t play too well.”

Defending champion Atlético Madrid, which was held to a 0-0 home draw against relegation-threatened Granada on Wednesday, stayed two points behind Barcelona and Sevilla. Fifth-place Real Betis trailed Atlético by four points and was two ahead of Sociedad.

Sociedad has not beaten Barcelona in 12 straight league matches. The Basque Country club hadn't lost in seven consecutive league games at home, all of them with clean sheets.

Barcelona's Dani Alves, left, fights for the ball with Real Sociedad's Diego Rico during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, April 21, 2022. (AP PhotoAlvaro Barrientos)

Barcelona extended its unbeaten streak on the road to 13 league matches, having won five in a row.

Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo left injured early in the second half, and the team's other central defender, Gerard Piqué, appeared to get injured in the first half but stayed until being substituted in the 82nd while being loudly jeered by the Sociedad fans.

Piqué, who also heard some boos every time he touched the ball during the game, has been in the spotlight in recent days after stolen audio leaked to the media exposed a series of conversations between him and Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales talking about behind-the-scenes negotiations on several issues.

Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, left, vies for the ball with Real Sociedad's Igor Zubeldia during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, April 21, 2022. (AP PhotoAlvaro Barrientos)

SEVILLA RECOVERS

Sevilla improved its chances of making it to the Champions League with a 3-2 win at second-to-last-place Levante.

Jesús “Tecatito” Corona scored two first-half goals and Jules Koundé added another after halftime.

Barcelona's Dani Alves reacts during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, April 21, 2022. (AP PhotoAlvaro Barrientos)

Levante captain José Luis Morales had to be comforted by teammates and opponents after the match because of a missed penalty kick that could have equalized the game at 2-2 in the second half. Koundé gave Sevilla a 3-1 lead about 10 minutes later before Roberto Soldado pulled the hosts closer again.

Levante stayed tied with last-place Alavés, six points from safety.

CÁDIZ FALLS AGAIN

Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left, tries to score next to Real Sociedad's goalkeeper Alex Remiro during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, April 21, 2022. (AP PhotoAlvaro Barrientos)

Cádiz followed up its stunning 1-0 win against Barcelona at the Camp Nou Stadium with a 3-2 home loss against Athletic Bilbao.

The result left Cádiz just outside the relegation zone.

Eighth-place Athletic was up 3-0 by the 33rd. It played a man down from the 71st after Mikel Vesga was sent off.

Barcelona's head coach Xavi Hernandez gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, April 21, 2022. (AP PhotoAlvaro Barrientos)

RELIEF FOR RAYO

Rayo won 1-0 at Espanyol to end a 13-match winless streak in the league and move closer to salvation.

Sergi Guardiola scored in the 42nd to leave the southern Madrid club seven points from the relegation zone in 14th place. Espanyol, sitting in 12th-place, was two points ahead of Rayo.

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