Atletico Madrid's Spanish forward #19 Alvaro Morata heads the ball and scores his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Getafe CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on Dec 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
MADRID - Getafe fought back to grab a 3-3 draw at 10-man Atletico Madrid on Tuesday as Borja Mayoral scored his second with a stoppage-time penalty to level a pulsating LaLiga encounter in which Antoine Griezmann equaled the hosts' all-time scoring record.
France international Griezmann also bagged a brace to draw level with Luis Aragones as the club's record marksman with 173 goals, but it wasn't enough to take all three points as Getafe clawed their way back from 3-1 down.
It was the first time Diego Simeone's side, who had Stefan Savic sent off in the 38th-minute, dropped points at home this season. They next host Sevilla on Saturday.
"After playing every three days and being down to 10 men with so much time to play, the boys made a huge effort. It was a tough game, we knew that," Atletico manager Simeone told DAZN.
Getafe's Spanish goalkeeper #13 David Soria reaches for the ball during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Getafe CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on Dec 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
"I am absolutely delighted for Griezmann, a player who is part of the club's history. He has always given everything and is very important for us."
Atletico moved third in the table with 35 points, level with fourth-placed Barcelona, who host Almeria on Wednesday. Girona are top with 44 points.
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"It's a shame, we had made a great effort with 10 men. It's a shame that Savic fouled twice and got two yellow cards. We wanted the three points," said Griezmann.
"We are always fighting for the league, there is peace of mind. There are games that you win, others that you end up suffering. There is no fatigue, we are very happy."
Atletico Madrid's Spanish defender #22 Mario Hermoso fights for the ball with Getafe's English forward #12 Mason Greenwood during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Getafe CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on Dec 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
Atletico took the lead just before halftime as Griezmann scored with a close-range finish from Rodrigo Riquelme's superb cross from the right.
Getafe equalized eight minutes into the second half when Mayoral, the league's second top scorer, pounced on a rebound from keeper Jan Oblak's superb save to find the net with a fine header.
Atletico substitute Alvaro Morata restored their lead in the 63rd minute with a towering header before Griezmann added to their advantage with a penalty in the 69th minute.
Getafe's Spanish forward #19 Borja Mayoral scores a penalty kick during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Getafe CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on Dec 19, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
Getafe pulled one back three minutes from fulltime with Oscar Rodriguez's deflected shot from inside the box, before Mayoral equalized again from the penalty spot with his second of the night.
"Oh my God. The first 30 minutes were calm, then it was a crazy game. A fair draw, a lot of emotions and we'll have to analyse it afterwards," said Mayoral, who took his LaLiga tally to 12 goals this season.
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"I'm happy, things are going well for me. I'm very fit and I've had a great season."