Atletico slip up again to offer hope to title rivals

VALENCIA: La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid offered new hope to Real Madrid and Barcelona of getting back into the title race after they could only draw 1-1 at Levante.

Levante went ahead in the 17th minute against the run of play after their group pressing helped win the ball and Jorge de Frutos accelerated down the pitch before he passed to Enis Bardhi who pulled off a composed finish on Wednesday.

Atletico levelled shortly before the break with a speculative shot from Marcos Llorente which took a heavy deflection off the head of Levante defender Rober Pier to wrong-foot keeper Aitor Fernandez.

The game, postponed from the start of the season, offered Atletico the chance to peel further away from nearest challengers Real Madrid but a second draw in three games only moved them on to 55 points.

They are still in the driving seat for a first title since 2014, however, leading Real by six points and with a game in hand. Barca are third on 46.

Levante are down in 11th but they have a strong record against the top sides and pulled off a shock 2-1 win at Real last month.

Atletico should have taken the lead soon after the interval when Angel Correa blasted way over the bar when the ball landed at his feet inside the area.

Llorente came close with another distance strike which fizzed past the post while Levante keeper Aitor Fernandez kept out efforts from the league’s top scorer Luis Suarez and midfielder Saul Niguez, who also had a late goal ruled offside.