Balaídos Burns: Celta Salvages Point in Atlético Thriller

Average Futmetrix Score: 49/100. A match that began with self-inflicted pain—C. Starfelt's own goal in minute 6—transformed into a battle of pure intensity when Clément Lenglet's red card at 40 minutes rewrote the script entirely.

From Own Goal to Resurrection: The Rollercoaster

Celta Vigo found themselves in the abyss from minute 6 when C. Starfelt deflected a delivery from P. Barrios past his own keeper. The nightmare had barely begun. But what appeared to be the prelude to a rout became something entirely different when Atlético Madrid watched Clément Lenglet receive a straight red for a foul at the 40-minute mark.

With ten men, the visitors were condemned to trench warfare. Jan Oblak became a wall of reinforced concrete, making three decisive saves to keep Atlético afloat. But Celta's intensity of attack was overwhelming: 18 shots against just 6 from Atlético, a siege that reflected absolute dominance in the field.

The Sucker Punch from the Bench

In minute 63, Iago Aspas sprinted from the bench. Five minutes later, at 68, the Galician striker restored hope to Balaídos with a goal that levelled the contest. It wasn't just a goal: it was proof that even with ten against eleven, Atlético could hold firm.

Marcos Alonso was the architect of that resistance from defence, with four key passes that kept Celta's hopes alive. The numbers tell the story: 24 combined shots, 5 on target, an upset factor nobody predicted in a match where a thrashing seemed inevitable.

The 1-1 draw leaves Celta with six points from twelve possible, still fighting to escape the relegation zone. For Atlético, it's a point rescued in adversity, though Lenglet's suspension will be a headache for the weeks ahead.