Atlético Madrid had a golden opportunity to make it three wins in a row — but in the end, they were lucky to escape with a draw.

The visitors took the lead midway through the first half, courtesy of a bizarre own goal by Celta Vigo. But everything changed in the 40th minute when defender Clément Lenglet was sent off, leaving Atlético with ten men and a full second half to survive.

What followed was a gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance from Diego Simeone’s side. Under relentless pressure from Celta, the “Colchoneros” — as they're affectionately known — defended desperately, and while they couldn’t hold on for the win, conceding once, they did enough to leave Vigo with a hard-earned point.

2025-26, Spain - La Liga

Celta - Atletico Madrid 1:1 (0:1)
Goals: Starfelt, 6 (own goal) (0:1); Aspas, 68 (1:1)

Celta: Radu A.; Starfelt; Mingueza; Carreira (Moriba, 84); Alonso M.; Rodriguez J.; Rodriguez Dam.; Beltrán (Alvarez H., 55); Jutgla (Aspas, 63); Swedberg (Zaragoza Br., 63); Iglesias (Durán, 84)
Substitution: Alvarez H. (from 55); Zaragoza Br. (from 63); Aspas (from 63); Moriba (from 84); Durán (from 84)
Bench: Villar; Fernandez Man.; Rueda; Domínguez C.; Román; Sotelo; El-Abdellaoui
Yellow Cards: Iglesias 65

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Lenglet (till 40); Hancko; Le Normand; Koke (Gallagher C., 77); Barrios P.; Llorente M.; Gonzalez N.; Griezmann (Galán J., 46; Álex Baena, 76); Álvarez Jul. (Sørloth, 82); Simeone G-o (Molina N., 81)
Substitution: Galán J. (from 46 till 76); Álex Baena (from 76); Gallagher C. (from 77); Molina N. (from 81); Sørloth (from 82)
Bench: Ruggeri; Pubill; Martín Car.; Raspadori
Yellow Cards: Lenglet 25, 40; Álex Baena 78
Red cards: Lenglet 40'