Diego Simeone's side were hit twice early on by the Andalucian minnows but dominated the game and triumphed thanks to an Angel Correa brace and Nahuel Molina's strike. "The comeback today makes me very happy because it was not easy after the two goals," Simeone told 'DAZN'. "The team calmly found the path to victory."

Correa missed Thursday's win over Osasuna with a knee sprain he sustained in the Madrid derby triumph last weekend but said he came back as soon as possible to help Atletico. "I wanted to force it, with a bit of pain, to help the team and it turned out well," said Correa, who started in attack in place of the suspended Alvaro Morata.

"Today the coach told me that I should play as the number nine to give more freedom to (Antoine) Griezmann." Atletico were on top from the start, with Griezmann striking the post before Lucas Pires sent the visitors ahead at the Metropolitano. The Brazilian winger finished off Chris Ramos's excellent low cross to the far post, although Atletico were angry a foul was not given in the build-up.

Cadiz defender Fali came close to doubling his side's lead with a cheeky lob from inside his own half, which flew over Jan Oblak but also narrowly wide, to the goalkeeper's immense relief. However Roger Marti produced a special chipped finish to beat Oblak and double Cadiz's lead. Correa headed home at the other end from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross to start Atletico's comeback after 32 minutes.

Molina then drilled home after a rebound fell into his path at the start of the second half to level the game. "We wanted to hold on for those first minutes (of the second half), we knew they would throw everything at us, but it wasn't to be," said Cadiz forward Marti. An Atletico winner seemed inevitable and eventually Argentina international Correa polished off a slick team move, turning home Saul Niguez's cutback.

"(Saul's form) is a prize for his humility, hard work, not giving up ... for all the work he's done in the last few years he deserves the moments he's getting right now," added Simeone. Atletico have played one fewer game than the teams above them and are three points behind third-place Girona.

Leaders Real Madrid beat the Catalan minnows on Saturday and are five points clear of Atletico, with champions Barcelona second after their win over Sevilla on Friday. Elsewhere Real Betis earned an impressive 3-0 win at home against Valencia to move seventh. Youngster Assane Diao, 18, scored for the second match running in his second game in the Spanish top flight, with Marc Roca and Ez Abde rounding out the victory.

October 1, 2023

Lucas Pires

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