Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said his side remain on course for their season's objective after Sunday night's 1-1 draw at home to Valencia kept the defending champions in third spot in the table.
In a game of few chances or free-flowing football, Atletico midfielder Koke put his side in front just after the hour mark, with Valencia centre-back Shkodran Mustafi benefitting on a mistake from Colchoneros goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya to equalise with just 12 minutes remaining.
The result means Atletico stay in third place, one point and one place ahead of Valencia, but the defending champions are now seven behind new La Liga leaders Barcelona.
At his postmatch news conference the Argentine coach rued a short spell in the second half with the score still at 1-0, in which Atletico midfielder Tiago hit the crossbar from close range before Valencia's equaliser came in their first real opportunity of the game.
"The game I saw was a great first half from us, as we showed the team we are, pressing very well, winning almost all the duels," Simeone said. "In the second half Valencia had more control of the ball, but were not making chances. Then Tiago had that move to score a goal, then at other end ball hits the bar and its a goal. A fair result, as goals always have their say, but our work was very good."
Simeone said that his side now having drawn on successive weekends away at fifth-placed Sevilla, and at home to fourth placed Valencia, were not seen as missed opportunities to get back into the title race.
"La Liga is still long, and in our championship is still against Sevilla and Valencia, who we have not been able to beat," he said. "We have a point advantage now and must look after it. We will keep competing for what we have been looking for all season. The aim was to reinvent ourselves after lots of changes in the squad last summer, and to keep competing. Hopefully when La Liga ends we will be in the position the club wants."
Even with top scorer Antoine Griezmann suspended, Simeone had left usual starting centre-forward Mario Mandzukic on the bench to start Fernando Torres and Raul Garcia in attack, in a move he said was a tactical decision not a punishment for the Croatia international having shown a poor attitude recently.
"With the characteristics of Fernando and Raul, we wanted depth up top and work in midfield," he said. "We wanted a team with a lot of aggression on attack, Fernando plays on the shoulder, and can lengthen the pitch. We also wanted the player in middle, with Raul. In second half, with Mandzo, we wanted to try and have more possession of the ball. That's why we had Arda Turan as second striker at that point."
Valencia coach Nuno told his post-ame news conference at the Estadio Vicente Calderon that he was happy to be leaving with a point, especially as his players had shown great character to fight back into the game in the second half.
"We knew the game was going to be tough, against a great team, the defending champions, who have been together a long time, and in a stadium which pushes them on," Nuno said. "We see this as a good point earned. I would point out especially how we went for the game in second half, without fear, the team showed an exemplary attitude. To come here and be able to compete is most important. We played a very good game. We worked hard, then played football."
The Portuguese coach said his side were now well set to achieve their season's objective by finishing in the top four and returning to the Champions League, which would be an important step in the project being rolled out by new billionaire owner Peter Lim.
"We will not budge from our objective," Nuno said. "We keep picking up points, to be in the Champions League next year. Our aim is not [yet] to challenge Madrid and Barca. This point will strengthen our new project. Over time we will be able to better compete with top rivals. There are no big celebrations today, but respect and we know we must keep working."