Atlético Madrid 0 - Levante 0

Atlético: Leo Franco; Molinero, Perea, Pablo, Antonio López; Luccin, Colsa (Nuñez 35'); Jorge (Salva 55'), Ibagaza, Gronkjaer; Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.
Levante: Mora; Pinillos, Alexis, Culebras, Jesule; Ettien, Tito (Celestini 82'), Camacho, Rivera, Nacho (Juanma 37'); Congo (Manchev 66'). 4-5-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Luccin, Jorge for Marcelo Sosa, Aguilera / Levante: Culebras, Pinillos, Tito, Camacho for Descarga, Rubiales, Celestini, Juanma.

Goals: None.

Atlético Madrid lost ground on the teams fighting for the European spots after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Levante. Coming only a week after their win in the Nou Camp, a capacity crowd were expecting to see some goals from their side, but they were kept out by a well ordered defence who had to play over three quarters of the game with ten men after Culebras was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a hard tackle on Fernando Torres. And despite being a man down, the visitors came closest to scoring in the first half, Leo Franco tipping an Alexis free kick on to the post and having to stop further efforts from Congo and Juanma.

Atlético's only replies were a couple of efforts wide of target from Jorge and Colsa, and to protests from the crowd both were replaced ten minutes either side of half time, Nuñez coming on before the break and testing Mora almost immediately, and Salva replacing the midfielder but having an off day, somehow managing to shoot over the bar from a couple of yards out after Mora spilled a long shot by Fernando Torres at his feet, and then putting another effort wide following a corner near the end. The result was a relief for much criticised visiting manager Bernd Schuster (an ex Atlético player himself), and keeps him in a job for another week at least.