Atlético Madrid struggled in a 0-0 draw against Espanyol, marking their second stalemate in La Liga this season and leaving them in fourth place, four points behind leaders Barcelona. In contrast, Alavés secured a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad, thanks to a decisive debut goal from Toni Martínez.
Atlético Madrid faced a frustrating stalemate at home, drawing 0-0 against Espanyol in a match where they struggled to convert numerous scoring opportunities.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Atlético's forwards failed to find the back of the net, highlighting their recent struggles in front of goal. Adding to their woes, a goal that could have broken the deadlock was ruled out by VAR, leaving them with just a single point from the match. This draw marks their second in the league this season, indicating a slow start for the team that aims to challenge for the La Liga title. Espanyol, on the other hand, managed to secure their first point of the season following their promotion back to the top division, showing resilience despite being under constant pressure from the home side.
With only five points after three games, Atlético Madrid finds itself in fourth place, already four points behind league leaders Barcelona. This early gap could become a concern for Diego Simeone's side as they aim to keep pace with their rivals. The team will need to address their scoring issues quickly if they hope to remain competitive at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, in the Basque Country, the fortunes of local clubs were contrasting. Real Sociedad suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat at home to Alavés, with Toni Martínez, a recent signing from FC Porto, making an immediate impact. Martínez was introduced as a substitute in the 70th minute and wasted no time in making his presence felt. Just seven minutes later, he scored the decisive goal, sealing a memorable debut with a vital win for his new team. This result came after Alavés had initially fallen behind to Real Sociedad, who had opened the scoring through Mendez in the 32nd minute. However, the game took a dramatic turn just before halftime when Villaibre converted a penalty to level the scores. Adding to Sociedad’s difficulties, they were reduced to 10 men in the 29th minute when Oyarzabal, a standout performer in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge.
Athletic Bilbao also enjoyed success, securing their first victory of the season with a narrow 1-0 win over Valencia. The only goal of the match came right on the stroke of halftime from Benat Prados Diaz, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home. This win will be a significant morale boost for Bilbao as they aim to improve their standing in La Liga. Valencia, however, continues to struggle at the bottom of the table. Despite introducing André Almeida and Thierry Correia in the second half to try and turn the game around, Valencia failed to find an equalizer and remains without a point this season, placing them at the foot of the standings. Their early-season form suggests they may be in for a challenging campaign unless they can quickly turn things around.
