Diego Simeone’s Atletico are still without a win this season after they drew 1-1 with promoted Elche, leaving them on one point after two frustrating outings.

Just like in their 2-1 loss at Espanyol last weekend, Atletico went ahead in the first period at the Metropolitano on Saturday.

“We wanted to win, we deserved to win the match,” said Diego Simeone.

“From the Espanyol match to today’s match, there was improvement. They played better. The result is not there but we need to work, be patient.”

Alexander Sorloth raced onto David Hancko’s perfectly-weighted ball into the left channel, before slotting past the advancing goalkeeper on eight minutes.

But Rafa Mir got Elche back on level terms on the quarter-hour with a crisp finish at the end of a lighting counter-attack.

Giuliano Simeone came within a whisker of restoring Atletico’s lead shortly before the interval only for his arrowed shot to glance off the post, however a goal would have been disallowed after Sorloth was flagged off-side in the build-up.

Conor Gallagher had a half-chance to grab Atletico’s second in the 79th minute when he intercepted Matias Dituro’s errant clearance near the halfway line, only for his long-range half-volley to bounce wide of the unguarded goal.

The best chance then fell to Marcos Llorente moments afterwards as he poked a snap-shot inches wide of the far post.

Diego Simeone was booked deep in stoppage time for his frustrated reaction to a penalty not being given following a tussle in the box as Atletico endured yet more frustration.

Earlier, Mallorca and Celta Vigo shared the spoils when Mateu Morey’s late leveller for the home side cancelled out Javi Rueda’s first-half opener.