The Yellow Submarine started brightly and took the lead in the 18th minute through Arnaut Danjuma. The Dutch winger, who had spent last season on loan at Tottenham and Everton, beat Axel Witsel for pace before slotting the ball into the far corner.
However, Atletico responded almost immediately. A swift counter-attack saw Antoine Griezmann find Marcos Llorente, who unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner.
Villarreal regained the lead just before half-time through a fortunate goal. A cross into the box wasn’t dealt with by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, and the ball bounced off Koke into the net.
The second half was a more open affair, with both teams creating chances. Atletico’s persistence paid off in the 75th minute when substitute Alexander Sorloth headed home from a corner.
The final stages of the game were end-to-end, with both sides pushing for a winner. Villarreal’s Nicolas Pepe came close to grabbing a late victory with a free-kick that struck the crossbar.
In the end, a draw was a fair result, with both teams showing attacking intent and defensive frailties. Atletico will be pleased to have come from behind twice, while Villarreal will be disappointed not to have held on for all three points.
