Angel Correa bundled home a stoppage-time equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in a LaLiga derby which was suspended in the second half.

The home fans threw objects onto the pitch near Thibaut Courtois in the 69th minute, forcing a stop to proceedings as the trouble was dealt with. 

Shortly before that, Eder Militao had opened the scoring for the visitors, with his rifled effort taking a deflection past Jan Oblak into the back of the net 64 minutes in.

The game was stopped for around 20 minutes, and when the players returned to the pitch, Atletico piled the pressure on.

They eventually levelled the score in the 95th minute, with substitute Correa rounding Courtois to roll it into an empty net, and the goal, which was initially ruled offside, was given following a VAR review.

Diego Llorente was then sent off four minutes later, sliding in with a heavy challenge on Fran Garcia, with VAR upgrading his yellow card to a red.

Real Madrid are second in the standings on 18 points, three behind Barcelona, but two ahead of Atletico in third after eight games.

Data Debrief: Sharing the spoils

For the most part, the Madrid derby was a cagey affair, with neither side creating too much of note in the opening exchanges, but they both ramped up the pressure after the break. 

Vinicius Junior's assist for the opener was his fifth in all competitions so far this season, the joint-most of any player across the top five European leagues.

But you can never count Atletico out - they have scored five goals in the final 15 minutes of the second half so far this season, with no team in LaLiga netting more. 

All in all, it was a memorable tie, even more so for Antoine Griezmann, who was making his 500th LaLiga appearance, becoming the 14th player to hit the milestone in the competition's history. 

Atletico Madrid's lack of preparation time has not dampened Diego Simeone's confidence ahead of Sunday's clash with Real Madrid, with the Argentine hoping their past derby successes can provide inspiration.

Atleti are unbeaten through their first seven games of the season in LaLiga, winning four and drawing three to sit third in the table, two points behind their cross-city rivals.

Los Colchoneros have, however, had two fewer days to prepare for the first Madrid derby of the season, having beaten Celta Vigo 1-0 on Thursday. Carlo Ancelotti's champions, meanwhile, downed Alaves 3-2 on Tuesday.

Atleti do boast a strong record against Los Blancos, being the only team to beat them in any competition last season – once in LaLiga last September and again in the Copa del Rey in January.

Simeone has masterminded 12 wins in his 43 Madrid derbies as Atletico coach (15 draws, 16 losses), as many victories as they managed in their previous 77 prior to his arrival.

Speaking at Saturday's pre-match press conference, Simeone told reporters: "A lot has changed up to this moment. 

"It's an aspect in which we’ve improved, and that’s why the club has grown as it has, and the team is held to the standards it is.

"Everything starts in the mind. Beyond the physical aspect, which can have an influence at times, motivation is an important weapon for everything in life."

The Argentine did admit the lack of preparation time posed a unique challenge, adding: "It's tough to change things in two days, based on what we've been doing.

"We are still in the process of finding our balance, we are adapting and we get it right more or less. But it is true that we need more time.

"We accept it as it is. We said it before when we went to play against Athletic Bilbao in the (Copa del Rey) semi-final, them with five days and us with two days of rest. No-one cares."

Atleti's only home defeat so far this year came in February's Copa del Rey semi-final against Athletic, who went on to win that trophy.

While Madrid have plenty of firepower despite Kylian Mbappe missing out due to injury, Simeone feels Sunday's visitors will miss the influence of retired midfielder Toni Kroos.

"The opponent has lost a very important player like Kroos," he said. "I think they are looking for that player who gives them that calm to take advantage of all their offensive power."

Carlo Ancelotti is aiming to avenge Real Madrid's two defeats to rivals Atletico Madrid last season when they travel to the Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday. 

On their way to a 15th LaLiga crown, Madrid lost their only game of the league season in a 3-1 defeat to Diego Simeone's side in September. 

Atletico also knocked Los Blancos out of the Copa Del Ray in the last 16, while their reverse fixture later in LaLiga ended in a 1-1 draw. 

This weekend's hosts have won two of their last three home derbies against Madrid in the league (L1), while also entering the upcoming derby in impressive form.

Atletico have not lost any of their last eight league matches (W5 D3), their best unbeaten run in LaLiga since a 13-match run at the start of last year. 

During Simeone's Atletico tenure, he has 12 wins in his 43 derbies as their head coach against Madrid in all competitions (D15 L16), the same as the number of wins they achieved in their previous 77 meetings with Los Blancos before his arrival. 

Ancelotti also has a poor record against his opposite number, losing nine of his 24 matches against Simeone across all competitions (W9 D6). 

Only against Luciano Spalletti (11) has he suffered more defeats in his entire managerial career, and Ancelotti is expecting another difficult test for his side. 

"It's obvious that we have to avoid the mistakes of last year. That learning could be useful for tomorrow's game. It is a difficult stadium," Ancelotti told reporters.

"I think Atletico have improved a lot, they've signed good players and I think they'll fight until the end for this League with us and with Barcelona."

Madrid, however, will be without their leading marksman Kylian Mbappe, who has been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Mbappe has seven goals in his first nine appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions, racking up more shots (39) than any other player in LaLiga, while also recording a division-high expected goals (xG) total of 6.97. 

But Ancelotti insisted nothing changes for his players in the Frenchman's absence as they aim to keep the pressure on league leaders Barcelona.

"Without Mbappe it changes a little, but not much. It's a shame that he's not here but we can make up for him well," the Italian coach added.

"Camavinga has recovered well, he is in good condition. If a player is available, he can play 90 minutes or none at all."

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was pleased with his team's defensive performance as they beat Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Thursday, but he knows they must create more chances.

Atletico managed to keep another clean sheet to consolidate their status as the best defensive side in the competition, conceding only three goals in seven games this season.

At the other end, Simeone's men only managed two shots on target and generated just 0.62 expected goals (xG) to the hosts' 1.53 xG, but Julian Alvarez's late goal inflicted Celta's first home defeat in seven months.

"Today we took the three points with great defensive patience against opponents who haven't lost since February," Simeone told reporters.

"We've been working well, but we need to improve our attacking. In the first half we performed well in defence but we didn't create opportunities to put our players in front of goal.

"There's a defensive performance that is much better, we still haven't found that area where we can play better offensively."

The Argentine was, however, delighted with the performances of Alvarez, Angel Correa and midfielder Rodrigo Riquelme, all of whom made an impact off the bench.

"In the second half the substitutions made us better, Rodrigo Riquelme, Julian, Correa... they were feeding us more in a game where both sides looked like they were going to have chances," Simeone said.

"Luckily, in the end [Antoine] Griezmann and Julian found each other."

Atletico host city rivals Real Madrid in LaLiga on Sunday, having taken 15 points from seven matches to trail Los Blancos by two points and leaders Barcelona by six.

A late Julian Alvarez goal earned Atletico Madrid a dramatic 1-0 win at Celta Vigo on Thursday to lift them to third in LaLiga.

Atletico looked to be heading to a second straight draw, but the substitute was alert in the final minute of the 90 to ensure they returned to Madrid with all three points.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak was key as Celta suffered their first home defeat of the season, producing an excellent save to deny Iago Aspas at his near post just before the break.

He kept his side in it throughout a poor showing, also keeping out Borja Iglesias twice after the break as Celta struggled to find their clinical edge.

But big-money signing Alvarez struck in the dying minutes, stretching out a leg to meet Antonie Griezmann's pinpoint cross to poke his second goal of the season past Vicente Guaita.

Data Debrief: Atleti ride their luck

It was not a vintage performance for Atletico by any stretch of the imagination, which was only confirmed as Oblak was awarded player of the match at the end of the contest.

The visitors only had two shots on target (from eight attempts), with both of those coming in the final 11 minutes as they accumulated just 0.63 expected goals.

Celta's profligacy came back to haunt them though as they had 10 shots, four of which hit the target, with three of those classed as big chances. They created an xG of 1.37, but just could not find a way past Oblak.

Atletico Madrid's meeting with Celta Vigo on Thursday gives them less time to prepare for their derby with Real Madrid, with Diego Simeone looking to reduce player workloads in training.

Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 on Tuesday to move up to second in LaLiga and have five days to prepare for Sunday's clash with Los Colchoneros, the only team to beat them last season.

Atleti managed a 3-1 win over Los Blancos last September – which remains Madrid's most recent league loss – before dumping them out of the Copa del Rey in January.

The scheduling of Thursday's trip to Celta puts Simeone's men at something of a disadvantage to their rivals, causing them to keep a close eye on players' conditioning.

"We are trying to manage it in the best way possible," Simeone said. 

"We have not changed much, trying to make the training sessions based on the players' workloads so that they arrive at the match in the best possible way."

Fixture congestion is an ongoing concern in European football, with the packed calendar being repeatedly criticised amid a spate of injuries to high-profile players, most notably Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

"They are the ones who manage everything, all the rest of us are there to accompany them, to try to manage," Simeone said. 

"But the only ones who can create change are the footballers, because they are the ones who play."

Meanwhile, Simeone has backed new strikers Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez to come good, with both players having just one goal apiece so far this term.

"I have no doubt that with time and the partnerships that we will create, they will perform better. It is our job to make them feel better and it is their job to transmit to us those partnerships that are generated in football," Simeone said.

Kylian Mbappe is likely to miss this weekend's Madrid derby after picking up an injury in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Deportivo Alaves on Tuesday. 

Mbappe, who scored Los Blancos' second goal of the night, was replaced by Arda Guler in the 80th minute and was seen gesturing to his thigh as he left the pitch. 

The Frenchman's sensational start to life in the Spanish capital has seen him score seven goals in his first nine appearances in all competitions.

Mbappe has also produced more shots on target (19) than anyone in LaLiga so far, netting five of the 10 big chances he has been presented with. 

But head coach Carlo Ancelotti could be without his star striker against Atletico Madrid this weekend. 

"Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid's Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappe, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg," Real said in a statement.

"His progress will be monitored."

Real's midweek victory moved them to within a point of league leaders Barcelona, who face Getafe on Wednesday. 

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone took the positives from his side's performance in a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

It marked Atleti's third draw in LaLiga this season, with Simeone's side six points back from leaders Barcelona.

Atleti earned a point at Vallecas Stadium thanks to Conor Gallagher's strike after the break following a sloppy first half in which Isi Palazon had put the hosts ahead.

Next up for Atleti is a derby clash with second-place Real Madrid, and Simeone remained optimistic despite his team's indifferent form.

"In the first half we had more scoring situations than gameplay. Then we saw intensity, involvement, a lot of people in the opposition's half, attacking in different ways," Simeone told reporters.

"I always focus on the positive, on the second half. We conceded a goal but we also had chances to score. We could have won the game.

"[I have] the same enthusiasm to go game by game, to face each one as if it were the last one. We are on that path."

Julian Alvarez went close to finding the net after 20 minutes but hit the woodwork, with the Argentine striker having only netted one goal in six games this season.

However, Simeone is confident that Alvarez and the rest of his forwards will find the sharpness they have been lacking.

"We are convinced that the goals will come. The problem is when the strikers don't have goal situations," the Argentine manager said.

"I liked Julian playing on the left, with a lot of effort. [Angel] Correa came on very well, [Antoine] Griezmann put the team in the opposition half. I was happy with the second half."

The match stats paint a bleaker picture for Atleti, who had fewer shots (10 to 16) than Vallecano, while mustering just 0.53 xG compared to their hosts' 1.85.

Gallagher's form is at least a major bonus for Atleti. The former Chelsea midfielder has scored in successive league games for the third time in his career, while he was involved in 18 duels (winning nine), which is the most by any player for the club this season in LaLiga.

Atletico Madrid lost early ground to Barcelona in their quest for the LaLiga title as they were held to a 1-1 draw with city rivals Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. 

The visitors withstood an early spell of pressure and almost took the lead in stunning fashion when Julian Alvarez's strike from distance cannoned off the crossbar. 

But Diego Simeone's side found themselves a goal down in the 35th minute when Isi Palazon turned home Raul de Tomas' cross after good work from Jorge de Frutos.

However, parity was restored four minutes after the break when Conor Gallagher struck beyond Augusto Batalla from the edge of the area to net his second goal in as many games for his new club. 

Atletico continued to push for a winner, with Alvarez and Angel Correa going close, but Rayo Vallecano were able to hold firm for the closing exchanges. 

The result leaves Simeone's side in fourth place, six points behind league leaders Barcelona who thumped Villarreal 5-1 earlier in the day. 

Data Debrief: Gallagher embracing advanced role

Having only scored 10 goals in 90 appearances for Chelsea, Gallagher is flourishing under Simeone's stewardship in Spain. 

During the contest, only Koke and Alvarez (both 14) made more passes into the final third than Gallagher (11), with his strike coming from an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.06. 

But the England international did not neglect his defensive responsibilities. Gallagher won more tackles (four) than anyone on the pitch, while also winning three fouls.

Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid have no choice but to manage their players' minutes with the new Champions League format dialling up the intensity of their schedule.

Atleti have made a positive start to the season, registering three wins and two draws from their first five matches in LaLiga to match Real Madrid's pace and sit four points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

They also made a winning start to their Champions League campaign in midweek, fighting back to beat RB Leipzig 2-1 with a last-gasp winner from Jose Maria Gimenez.

With eight European league-phase games to play this term, Atleti face an incredibly busy schedule, with no free midweek slots until December, excluding international breaks.

After going to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, Los Colchoneros visit Celta Vigo on Thursday then face Real Madrid, Benfica and Real Sociedad in the space of a week. 

"It makes us try to manage the squad in the best way but the difficulties come in the hours approaching the game, when we need to win," Simeone said ahead of Sunday's trip across the Spanish capital. 

"The word rotation is not good, it is an opportunity for those who play and you cannot always repeat the same players, because then you are on the way to significant injuries as we have seen.

"On our physical side, we have to try to manage their health in the best way. Only with health can we have a team.

"On the pitch there is little to work in the time we have left for each game, especially when it is Thursday and Sunday."

A late header by defender Jose Maria Gimenez gave Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig in their Champions League opener on Thursday.

The German side took a shock lead in the fourth minute thanks to a header by striker Benjamin Sesko, capping a quick counter-attack.

However, Antoine Griezmann struck a fine volley into the top corner in the 28th minute to level the scores.

Atletico dominated the match with 20 attempts on goal in total, but it wasn't until the 90th minute that they finally managed to find the winner, with Gimenez heading in a cross from Griezmann. 

Data debrief: Griezmann inspires Atleti again

Griezmann proved once again to be the talisman for Atletico Madrid, with a goal and an assist, three chances created, winning 100% of his aerial duels and recovering the ball eight times.

After netting Atletico's first-half equaliser in this match, 26 of Griezmann’s 37 goals in the Champions League have now come on home soil, moving him level for home goals in the competition with Sergio Aguero and Alessandro Del Piero.

Leipzig have now failed to win in their last three games in Champions League, which is their longest winless streak in the competition since a run of six games from February to November 2021.

Diego Simeone has called for patience with Julian Alvarez, after the forward opened his Atletico Madrid account last weekend.

The Argentina international netted his first goal for Los Rojiblancos against Valencia on Sunday, rounding off a commanding 3-0 victory at the Metropolitano Stadium.

It was Alvarez's fifth appearance since completing his move from Manchester City on a six-year deal reportedly worth up to €95million (£81.8million).

The 24-year-old linked up with his new team-mates following an extended break, having starred in Argentina's Copa America triumph in July.

Simeone insists Alvarez still needs time to settle into life in the Spanish capital, but is confident he will score plenty of goals throughout the campaign.

"[Alvarez] is a noble, hard-working boy, who surely has a lot of important things to give us," he told reporters at his press conference. "But he is coming from a summer, in which he had a brief holiday.

"It was that stir of: 'I'm going to go, I'm staying, have to start playing, got to go with Argentina, have to come back'. It was intense and, luckily, he is in a group of team-mates who are working very well and understand the situation.

"We are always going to demand what he can give us because we know and believe in his potential. Hopefully, him scoring his first goal the other day will be the first of many to come."

Alvarez could make his European bow for Atletico when they welcome Leipzig for their Champions League opener on Thursday.

And Simeone hopes his players and the Atleti supporters will respond to the occasion.

"We are looking forward to returning to compete in the Champions League," he added. "I can imagine a stadium with the energy required to return to this competition.

"Hopefully, we can transmit all the enthusiasm and energy that I'm counting on from this group."

The arrivals of Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez have energised Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone said on Sunday.

Gallagher, who joined this summer from Premier League side Chelsea, scored his first LaLiga goal in Sunday's 3-0 home win over Valencia, opening the scoring in the first half.

He is now just the third youngest English goalscorer in the Spanish top-flight (24 years and 222 days), after Jude Bellingham and Mason Greenwood. 

"He came with a lot of enthusiasm, and we needed that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better," Simeone told a news conference.

"He does not stop giving his best in every game situation in which he participates."

Another new signing, Alvarez, scored in the 93rd minute, also his first goal in the Spanish top flight since joining from Manchester City.

He became the 14th Argentina player to score for Atletico in LaLiga this century. 

"We all needed him to score a goal, for him to be more relaxed, to be connected to what he likes... hopefully the goal will be the first of many," the manager added.

"I imagine that he lives for the goal and the enthusiasm to generate this type of situation. Today he appeared as he always does at the least expected moment at the end of the game when hope seems to be fading and, luckily, he scored."

The Atletico boss added that the strengthened squad, which includes new signings such as Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth, is gelling very well and that allows them to compete at the level they want to.

Atletico Madrid cruised to a convincing 3-0 home win over LaLiga's bottom side Valencia on Sunday, with Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez scoring their first goals for the club.

Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino went close in the first half before Atletico took the lead in the 39th minute, new signing Gallagher finishing into the bottom corner after latching onto a delightful pass from Rodrigo De Paul.

Valencia fought hard for an equaliser, with Javi Guerra's long-range effort going wide, but they were unable to prevent Antoine Griezmann from making it 2-0 after Lino's header fell into his path nine minutes after the break.

Another new recruit, Alvarez, put the icing on the cake with his first goal in the Spanish top flight since arriving from Manchester City, when he slotted home Rodrigo Riquelme's cross in the 93rd minute.

Atletico, who are still unbeaten this season, moved into second place, level on 11 points with Real Madrid and four behind leaders Barcelona. 

Data Debrief: New boys off the mark

Gallagher's opener made him the third-youngest Englishman to net in LaLiga this century, at the age of 24 years and 222 days.

Only Jude Bellingham (20 years and 44 days) and Mason Greenwood (22 years, seven days), both in 2023, have done so at a younger age.

He wasn't the only new recruit to impress on Sunday, though.

Alvarez's goal made him the 14th Argentinian player to score for Atleti since the turn of the century, with no other foreign nation supplying as many unique goalscorers for Los Colchoneros in that time.

Diego Simeone said his revamped Atletico Madrid side are still a work in progress and going through a transition period as their new signings settle in.

After spending more than €200million reinforcing the squad with signings like Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher and Robin Le Normand after a trophyless campaign.

Atletico have started LaLiga with two wins and two draws, and Simeone said the team are going in the right direction, and he was not concerned with results as ups and downs are expected.

Coming off the back of an international break, Atletico are fourth in the LaLiga standings, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

"We will face a difficult task in LaLiga, especially in the beginning of the season, until our team find their rhythm, reach the form that we know we [can] achieve," Simeone told a press conference on Saturday.

"We have many new players that have joined the team, something that has not happened in the last two seasons. But I'm not changing the objective. I'm still hoping for the best results.

"It would have been nice if the new guys were around here, but obviously the national teams call and everyone needs to go for two weeks.

"Our task here is to try to make them feel at home as quickly as possible so they can blend in and perform at the level that we all want.

Simeone said having too many players was a good problem to have and that he was not worried about choosing a starting 11 as he will rotate his team during a busy schedule, with seven games between LaLiga and the Champions League in the next three weeks.

"I see the group with enthusiasm, they all want to play and earn their space in the team and are working hard for that," Simeone added.

"It's difficult to choose who to play, but the number of games ahead allows me to have fresh players available, coming in with a lot of energy and desire.

"I like to think game by game, and it doesn't take me any further away from Valencia. Yes, we have new players around, but I'm not changing that mentality and our objective, which is still hoping for the best result, game by game."