Atletico Madrid had to come from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw with Levante at Ciutat de Valencia in La Liga this afternoon.
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Mario Mandzukic came close to opening the scoring early on when Juanfran picked him out with a long ball forward, but his header was straight at Diego Marino.
The Levante keeper had to remain alert again shortly after as Mandzukic was on the attack again, attempting to turn the ball in from a Guilherme Siqueira cross.
Despite the defending champions' bright start, it was Levante who opened the scoring when Ivan Lopez fired the ball in from out wide to leave David Barral to tap in from close range.
Atletico were back on level terms before the break, though, as Antoine Griezmann had his effort blocked, leaving Siqueira to volley it in as the ball was played back in moments later.
The hosts could have regained the lead shortly after the restart as Tono tried to set up Kalu Uche, but the striker's finish did not have enough power to get the better of the Atletico keeper.
Uche did better 10 minutes later as Ivan Lopez battled forward before playing the ball through to the striker, leaving him to convert from close range.
Levante had a chance to secure all three points inside the final 15 minutes as Jose Morales curled the ball in from a free kick, but the visitors managed to turn the ball behind.
The miss proved costly a few minutes later as Diego Simeone's side won a corner down the other end, allowing Koke to tee the ball up for Fernando Torres to nod into the back of the net.
Jose Gimenez had a chance to steal the win for Atletico late on as he blasted the ball towards the Levante goal, but Marino made the save at full stretch to ensure that the sides finished level.
The result leaves Atletico third in the table, four points clear of Valencia, while Levante sit 15th.
Sian Cowper
