Atlético scores twice in stoppage time to end poor run

Atlético Madrid ended its poor run of results in dramatic fashion on Saturday, scoring twice in stoppage time to rally from a two-goal deficit and beat Valencia 3-2 in the Spanish league.

The victory ended a three-match winless streak that included elimination from the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup and had increased pressure on coach Diego Simeone. It was only Atlético's second win in its last seven league games.

The result gives a much-needed boost to the team — and coach — and leaves the defending champions within four points of third-place Real Betis with a game in hand. Atlético remains far from the top, though, as leader Real Madrid is 13 points ahead.

Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone reacts during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Valencia opened a two-goal lead in the first half, but Atlético cut the gap with a goal by Matheus Cunha shortly after the break before Ángel Correa and Mario Hermoso scored two minutes apart early in injury time. Hermoso's winner came with the player just barely onside after a shot by Cunha.

“It was a crazy one from the start,” Correa said. “We are happy we found a way to come back against such a complicated rival.”

American midfielder Yunus Musah gave Valencia the early lead in a breakaway in the 20th for his first league goal since 2020. The 19-year-old Musah’s other two goals this season had come in the Copa del Rey. Hugo Duro increased Valencia's lead just before halftime.

Atletico Madrid's Koke, 2nd left, celebrates with Angel Correa at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Simeone’s team was coming off consecutive losses to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals and to Real Sociedad in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

The crowd at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium supported Simeone by chanting his name early in the game, but there were some jeers when he replaced forward João Félix with defender Felipe early in the second half.

Valencia, winless in four straight league games, stayed in ninth place.

Atletico Madrid players applaud the fans at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Barcelona, 17 points off the lead in seventh place, plays at relegation-threatened Alavés on Sunday.

SEVILLA STALLS

Second-place Sevilla missed yet another chance to move close to Madrid after being held by Celta Vigo to a 2-2 draw at home.

Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

Sevilla came from behind with two second-half goals to salvage a point, its second consecutive draw after it failed to get past Valencia in the previous round.

Julen Lopetegui's team could have moved within a point of Madrid, which faces Elche on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

“The feeling is that if we have five more minutes maybe we could have earned the victory,” Sevilla midfielder Papu Gómez said. “The team showed character and personality. We were close to the victory.”

Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

The setbacks have allowed third-place Real Betis to close its own gap on city rival Sevilla to six points. Betis won 4-1 at Espanyol on Friday.

Celta, which was looking for its second win in a row, sits in 11th place. It had won three of its last four games.

“We had the victory in our hands,” Franco Cervi said. “We came away with only one point when we had the three secured."

Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa, right celebrates with Luis Suarez after scoring his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

The visitors took a 2-0 lead with goals by Cervi in the 37th minute and Iago Aspas in the 40th. Sevilla equalized with Gómez scoring in the 71st and Óliver Torres in the 74th.

The hosts came close to the win when Torres' attempt from close range hit the post in the 81st.

The draw extended Sevilla's unbeaten streak to eight consecutive league games, with five wins and three draws. Sevilla's lone league title came in 1945-46.

Atletico Madrid's Mario Hermoso celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP PhotoManu Fernandez)

OTHER RESULTS

Cádiz won 2-0 at last-place Levante to end a seven-match winless streak and move closer to escaping the relegation zone.

Villarreal beat Mallorca 3-0 at home as it chases a European qualification spot.

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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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