Atletico Madrid were brought back down to earth as they were beaten at La Liga strugglers Almeria.

A week after outclassing Barcelona to inflict a first defeat of the season on the champions, Atletico could not find a way past Almeria keeper Diego Alves, who, along with opposite number Sergio Asenjo, kept the game scoreless in the first half.

Both sides hit the woodwork in the second period but the deadlock was finally broken three minutes from time by the industrious Pablo Piatti.

Asenjo was the first of the two keepers to be called into action, parrying well from Henok Goitom's 12-yard strike after 12 minutes.

The ball rebounded to Goitom but he could not find the target with his follow-up.

Alves had an easier task a minute later to hold onto a long-range effort from Jose Manuel Jurado.

Ten minutes later Diego Forlan shot from around 12 yards but again Alves clung on.

Asenjo then made a second excellent save just after the half-hour mark.

It came from Domingo Cisma's free-kick from the left, the ball making its way to Piatti, whose left-footed strike was blocked by Asenjo.

He also kept out Fernando Soriano's 18-yard strike before, at the other end, Forlan fired wide from 18 yards.

Five minutes before the break, Jose Antonio Reyes, after being fouled by Michel, sent a free-kick into the box.

The ball broke to Tiago, whose shot was held by Alves.

And he produced his finest save of the half moments before the break when he got down well to parry Forlan's 18-yard effort.

Four minutes into the second period, Tiago rose well to direct a header across goal but sent it well wide when he should have done much better.

Asenjo was finally beaten after 56 minutes but this time the woodwork came to his rescue.

Cisma's corner found Chico at the far post and his header clattered against the bar.

Piatti's cross a moment later evaded the stretching Chico at the far post.

Chico was soon in action at the other end, sliding in to clear off the line after Forlan rounded Alves and sent a shot goalwards.

Atletico came close again after 67 minutes.

Alves saved Reyes' 20-yard free-kick and recovered in time to beat away a follow-up header from Simao Sabrosa.

Ten minutes from time, Tiago advanced on the Almeria goal and nobody challenged him as he unleashed a shot from the edge of the box that left the crossbar rattling.

At the other end, Piatti on the left crossed for substitute Jose Ortiz, whose looping header brushed against the side-netting.

Fernando Soriano then saw his strike beaten down by Asenjo, but his side were ahead moments later.

Cisma's cross from the left was headed by Luis Perea only as far as Piatti, who struck the ball through bodies to beat the wrong-footed Asenjo.

Kalu Uche then fired over the bar for Almeria but there was no sign of an Atletico equaliser.