Misfiring Atletico held 1-1 by promoted side Elche

They fail to hold onto their lead for the second LaLiga game in a row

LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Elche - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - Aug 23, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Thiago Almada in action with Elche's John Donald REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Atletico Madrid failed to hold onto their lead for the second LaLiga game in a row, settling for a 1-1 home draw with promoted side Elche on Saturday as Rafa Mir's equaliser cancelled out Alexander Sorloth's early strike.

Sorloth put Atletico ahead eight minutes in, the Norway forward sprinting up to the box to meet David Hancko's long ball and firing it over Elche keeper Matias Dituro with a left-footed first touch.

Elche equalised seven minutes later, with Alvaro Rodriguez's excellent cross from the right finding Mir, who beat Atletico keeper Jan Oblak with a perfectly timed right-footed shot as the away end came alive at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Dituro caught Hancko's headed attempt at the hour mark before clearing a dangerous cross from Connor Gallagher with a dive, keeping the visitors in the game as Elche held on to draw their second league game in a row.