The LaLiga race continues to heat up as Atletico Madrid missed the chance to go three points clear at the top after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis on Sunday evening.
Atletico made five changes from the loss against Sevilla, two enforced as Luis Suarez and Marcos Llorente were suspended and Angel Correa, Joao Felix, Yannick Carrasco, Hector Herrera and Stefan Savic were all recalled.
The visitors had a dream start after Carrasco gave them the lead in the fifth minute with a tap-in from close range after Correa went through on goal, rounded goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and played a cut-back.
Cristian Tello found the equaliser for Betis in the 20th minute with a stunning volley inside the box after a great cross by Alex Moreno.
Manuel Pellegrini's charges should have went ahead eight minutes before the break after a good flick by Aitor Ruibal from a cross inside the box but Emerson, having the goal at his mercy miskicked his volley.
The sides were cagey in the early stages of the second stanza but Emerson came close to making it 2-1 for Betis two minutes before the hour-mark with a powerful free header from a corner that produced a great reflex save from goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Diego Lainez Leyva had a wonderful chance to give the hosts the lead 14 minutes before time just after coming on for Ruibal after going through on goal at the right side of the box but his low strike was parried away by Oblak.
With the game was in the balance in the closing minutes, Correa had a glorious chance to snatch the winner for Atletico in stoppage time after receiving a cut-back from Vitolo inside the six-yard box but his low strike was saved by Bravo, who denied Correa again in the last action.
In the end, the sides shared the spoils as Simeone's men reclaim top spot but they are only point ahead of Real Madrid.
