Sports Director Pedro Cordero this week compared CD Tenerife to a salmon swimming against the current but this game was about two lost points, the ones that got away. A O-OÂ home draw against a free scoring Atletico Madrid B team isn’t bad but with leaders Castilla three goals down at half time Tenerife should have taken the bait and made up valuable ground.

Coach Calderon is too negative, he kept Kitoko in the centre of defence alongside Ayoze (pic) and brought back Medina after his one game suspension but played him in midfield with Marcos, leaving no place for the eager to attack Zazo. Tenerife were the better team in the first half but there were plenty of warning signs about their visitors strengths. Madrid are a big side and Pedro Martin up front caused plenty of problems, his chipped shot after 8 minutes just cleared the home bar. Bravo had a good early chance heading over after good work by Chechu on the right. Perona and Bravo both had further near misses but Madrid twice saw shots saved by the woodwork.

Medina and Marcos weren’t sparking many raids from CDT, it was mainly down to breaks down the flanks to cause a threat and Perona and Ferran couldn’t convert what came their way. Just before the break Martin had the home goal in his sights again but Sergio got a finger tip to the ball to turn it over but the generous referee gave a goal kick. At half time the buzz among the 8,920 crowd was about Castilla’s downfall but it didn’t act as a further spur to the players. Tenerife just don’t have the killer instinct and Madrid always knew they were in with a shout. Just after an Atletico chance went looping over the Tenerife bar, Calderon made a double change bringing in Kiko and Nico for Marcos and Chechu.

Kiko was a little rusty but added more threat up front and Nico’s speed was a useful addition.Sergio had more to do in this half and was as always superb, particularly after a Kitoko slip let Madrid through. Tenerife showed some late urgency, Kiko barely troubled the keeper with his weak shot and Perona got into a good position but was bundled wide by a visiting defender. Tarantino came on too late to make much difference, replacing Medina, and injury time was nail biting as first Kiko’s final touch let him down in front of goal and then play switched to the other end where Sergio again showed his class with a crucial save.