Atletico Madrid’s Filipe Luis celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates. (REUTERS)Atletico Madrid needed a late own-goal to salvage a 1-1 draw at Girona in the Spanish league on Sunday. It was a fourth straight draw away from home in the league for Diego Simeone’s team.
Atletico remained in third place, level on points with second-placed Barcelona.
Barcelona hosts Villarreal later Sunday, and leader Sevilla visits Alaves.
Girona striker Christian Stuani scored his league-leading 11th goal of the season by converting a spot kick just before halftime after being fouled by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak. A video review awarded the penalty after the referee had initially ruled that the foul was outside the area.
Simeone sent on forwards Gelson Martins and Angel Correa to spark a comeback, and Correa came through when he recovered the ball and quickly sent a long ball forward to Diego Costa. Defender Jonas Ramalho tried to impede Costa from striking the ball, only to tap it into his own net in the 82nd minute.
Saul Niguez hit the crossbar for Atletico in the first half.
Girona lost goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to a leg injury midway through the second half, but replacement Gorka Iraizoz made a fingertip save to deny Niguez in the 77th.
Elsewhere, Real Betis beat Real Sociedad 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal by Junio Firpo.
