Atletico returned from Balaidos like Bill Murray trapped in Punxsutawney. Another winless trip, although this time with an asterisk: their goal was a shot on the leg and a hole. Because Cholo's team took the lead early, as usual this season, only to be forced to survive with one less after 50 minutes.

Celta, immersed in its own time warp, managed only to grab a 1-1 draw, not the three points. Each team relied on a different part of the game from the start. One, Atletico, to sleep in the UEFA Champions League throughout the break, after Barcelona's defeat. The other, Celta, to stay out of the relegation zone.

Koke and Griezmann returned to Cholo's starting lineup. Brian Zaragoza, who had already changed in the Europa League, and Aspas were substitutes. But there was this Panda, immersed in goal, who, after a minute and a half, tried to strike the first blow against the red and whites. It all started with Jutglà, who ran as if this match was still the one in Bruges so long ago, in which he attacked Atlético. When he reached the goal line, he devised an acrobatic cross to keep the game in the area, towards Borja Iglesias, who, it is not clear whether he intended to cross or head. Whatever it was, it did not work. The ball, far out, went out. Panda missed, but not Atlético just five minutes later. The Law of Football.

Two wins with 5 goals do not seem to... bring spring. And Atletico Madrid understood this well. After back-to-back impressive victories over Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt, Diego Simeone's team, which played with 10 players for more than a half, was forced to settle for a draw at Celta's home ground (1-1). Thus, they missed the opportunity to reduce their distance from the top of La Liga, remaining eight points behind the leading Queen.

And this while the game started excellently for them. Just in the 6th minute, Starfelt unintentionally gave the Rojiblancos the lead after Barrios's effort by scoring an own goal. However, things changed when in the 40th minute the international central defender, Langlet, was sent off with a second yellow card. Giving his team a numerical disadvantage. The Galicians, as expected, increased their pressure and were justified, as in the 68th minute they equalized with... the usual suspect Iago Aspas and took the important point.