Atletico Madrid held to a draw

Atletico Madrid held to a draw

Atletico Madrid's miserable start to the Primera Division season continued as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by 10-man Racing Santander.

Atletico were looking to bury the memory of their 3-0 defeat by Malaga on the opening day of the season but instead there was further frustration.

The hosts dominated virtually the entire match and looked certain to capitalise after their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the 46th minute when Jose Angel Crespo saw red, but it was not to be.

Jose Manuel Jurado had given Atletico the lead after 43 minutes but they were pegged back two minutes later by Oscar Serrano.

The first action of note saw Racing's Manuel Arana go into the book for a fourth-minute foul on Paulo Assuncao.

It was the visitors who had the first effort on goal, too, Arana's free-kick headed wide of the post by Laszlo Sepsi.

Assuncao was proving a danger to Racing but was off target with two long-range efforts in quick succession.

Sergio Aguero had been quiet in the opening stages and his first sight of goal after 16 minutes was swiftly snuffed out by Crespo.

Atletico were getting closer and they could have taken the lead moments later but Juanito could only head Simao Sabrosa's corner wide.

Aguero tried his luck from the edge of the area but again Antonio Tono was not forced to make a save, and Simao also missed the target with a presentable opportunity.

The visiting keeper showed his worth with a fine save from Jose Manuel Jurado's 39th-minute effort but it was a warning Racing did not heed and the same player found the bottom corner four minutes later to give the hosts a deserved lead.

But, having worked so hard for the breakthrough, Atletico promptly found themselves back on level terms when Serrano ran onto Alexandre Geijo's pass and fired home.

Coach Abel Resino replaced Aguero with Diego Forlan at half-time and Atletico found themselves with a numerical advantage less than a minute after the break when Crespo was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Simao.

Forlan was soon involved in the action, warming the hands of Tono with an effort from just inside the box.

Mehdi Lacen tested Atletico keeper Sergio Asenjo with a 20-yard effort but that was against the run of play as the home side sought to retake the lead.

They were inches away in the 56th minute when Forlan drove a long-range free-kick against the bar.

The frustration inside the Vicente Calderon was growing, though, with Racing proving resilient opposition.

Jurado and Cleber Santana tried their luck but caused little trouble for Tono, while at the other end Serrano drew a comfortable save from Asenjo.

Racing were dealt another blow when, less than 10 minutes after making his debut off the bench, striker Xisco was himself substituted after picking up an injury.

Resino threw on Jose Antonio Reyes in a last-gasp effort to secure the three points but Racing hung on.