MADRID: Atletico Madrid missed out on the chance to go second in La Liga when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by improving Valencia on Sunday.
Radamel Falcao cancelled out Jonas’s strike, both goals coming in the first six minutes, leaving Diego Simeone’s side third with 61 points and nine games left in the season.
Atletico are a point behind city rivals and King’s Cup final opponents Real Madrid in second, 14 adrift of leaders Barcelona.
Malaga are fifth, with Valencia one place behind.
An own goal by Javi Lopez earned Real Sociedad a deserved 2-2 draw at Espanyol to leave them fourth with 48 points, in the last the Champions League qualification berth.
Valencia made a whirlwind start at the Calderon and took the lead after five minutes when Jonas took advantage of slack defending to score from close range.
Atletico struck back within a minute as Arda Turan crossed and Falcao beat the offside trap to volley the equaliser, his 22nd goal of the campaign.
Atletico soaked up intense pressure to make it to halftime without conceding a second, thanks in part to great saves from Thibaut Courtois.
Atletico wrestled control after the break but either side could have snatched the honours in an entertaining clash. It was only the second time this season that Atletico had failed to win at home in the league.
Earlier, Kike Sola scored twice as Osasuna came from behind to win 3-1 at Real Valladolid, while, at the foot of the standings, Deportivo La Coruna fired their survival hopes with a 3-2 comeback victory at fellow strugglers Real Mallorca, earning their first away win of the campaign. (Reuters)
