A former Chelsea star hit a stunning strike during Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Saturday afternoon.
Diego Simeone’s side let a one-goal lead over their 15th-placed opponents slip, meaning they failed to close in on Barcelona at the top of LaLiga, who play their game in hand on Sunday.
Atletico closed their gap to the Catalan giants to six points, while local rivals Real Madrid are level on points with Barcelona.
Hansi Flick’s side can re-gain control and widen the margin between themselves their title rivals if they are to beat Girona on Sunday.
Atletico are now winless in three league games. Cesar Azpilicueta’s long-range volley handed them a first-half lead before Javier Puado’s penalty in the 71st minute levelled the affair.
Azpilicueta, who played at Chelsea between 2012 and 2023, had not scored in LaLiga until Saturday, despite this being the defender’s sixth season in the Spanish top-flight.
Former Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta hit a long-range volley for Atletico Madrid on Saturday
It was the defender’s first goal since joining Atletico on a free transfer from the Blues in 2023
Diego Simeone’s men were still held to a 1-1 draw with Espanyol and lost ground in the title race
Before joining Marseille and then Chelsea in the early 2010s, Azpilicueta spent four years at Osasuna between 2006 and 2010, but failed to find the net in 99 LaLiga appearances.
But, at the 133rd time of asking, the veteran centre back was able to open his account in the division, 19 years after making his debut.
It marked the 21st goal of his career, having scored 17 times for Chelsea, twice at Marseille and once for the Spanish national team.
When he left Chelsea on a free transfer in June 2023, Azpilicueta broke down in tears in an announcement video.
The 33-year-old was a key figure for the Blues in a trophy-laden spell over the last decade that saw him win 13 trophies – including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two Europa League titles and the Champions League.
‘I feel I gave everything. I love it,’ he told the club in a clip on social media.
‘I think it would be pretty obvious to pick the highest moment of my career, when we won the Champions League in Porto. It was my first trophy as captain.
‘Chelsea is my home, it always will be and hopefully I can come back in a different role.’