Atletico Madrid held at Alaves after Perez thunderbolt
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Vincent West
(Reuters) - Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Alaves as Lucas Perez's sublime solo strike stopped the visitors moving into provisional top spot in La Liga on Tuesday.
Atletico substitute Alvaro Morata scored his third goal in three games to fire them ahead in the 70th minute as Diego Simeone's team struggled to find top form at Mendizorroza.
Alaves' Fernando Pacheco made fine saves to deny Spain striker Morata a second goal and to foil Angel Correa before Perez cut in from the right and lashed a thunderbolt into the top corner with seven minutes remaining.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Hector Herrera in action with Deportivo Alaves' Aleix Vidal REUTERS/Vincent West
Atletico are second after 11 games, level on 20 points with surprise leaders Granada who face Getafe on Thursday.
Barcelona, who have 19 points from nine games, can move top if they beat visiting Real Valladolid later on Tuesday.
"They (Alaves) had a great first half, better than us and then Lucas scored that tremendous goal," said Simeone.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Deportivo Alaves' Ruben Duarte in action with Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa REUTERS/Vincent West
"After the break we were better, we won the second ball, attacked the full backs, and if we stick with that and understand what happened in the first half, we'll be fine."
Neither side created any chances of note in a lifeless encounter until Morata's introduction on the hour mark.
Having scored against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and Athletic Bilbao last weekend in La Liga, Morata continued his hot streak with a cool finish after being set up by Correa.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Deportivo Alaves' Victor Laguardia and Aleix Vidal in action with Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa REUTERS/Vincent West
The Argentine forward has been impressive in the absence of record signing Joao Felix, out for a month with an ankle injury.
However former Arsenal forward Perez struck for the fifth consecutive league game to deny the 2014 Spanish champions on a frustrating night.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Deportivo Alaves' Ruben Duarte in action with Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa REUTERS/Vincent West
(Reporting by Rik Sharma; editing by Ken Ferris)
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their first goal with Saul Niguez and teammates REUTERS/Vincent WestSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez in action with Deportivo Alaves' Mubarak Wakaso REUTERS/Vincent WestSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - Deportivo Alaves v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain - October 29, 2019 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and Deportivo Alaves' Martin Aguirregabiria REUTERS/Vincent West
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