Brighton and Hove Albion Analysis: Encouragement in late defeat by Atletico Madrid

Albion's final dress rehearsal for the Premier League ultimately proved to be a goal-laden tale of the unexpected.

Tomer Hemed was the only out-and-out striker available to Chris Hughton, with Glenn Murray suspended for his late red card against Girona and Sam Baldock just back in training after summer calf surgery.

So to score twice in the second half against Atletico, noted under Diego Simeone for being immensely difficult to break down, is quite a feat, even if there was an element of luck about the first equaliser.

Anthony Knockaert's return to action as a second half substitute, 23 days after damaging ankle ligaments in the opening friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf in Austria, was also an unexpected bonus.

The news is not all good on the injury front, with Manchester City's visit now looming large.

Solly March, who shone from the bench, was substituted himself after suffering a kick, although Hughton's reaction afterwards suggested not too much damage has been done.

Beram Kayal, who hobbled off at the interval with a sore ankle, long after the rest of the players had departed, is more of a concern.

Just as well then that Albion will end their quest to sign another central midfielder by blitzing their transfer record for PSV's Davy Propper.

They face a proper test against City on Saturday, akin to Atletico, another of the European powerhouses.

Protection for the defence from the midfield will be a key element, so it was a little worrying that Albion conceded three times and could have let in a few more without the agility of new No.1 Mathew Ryan.

A goalkeeper's lot is such that the Australian's Amex debut will be remembered for the blunder he made to gift Atletico the lead (above), not the saves he made to keep the Seagulls in touch.

Oh well, better to get it out of the way when it does not matter.

Albion will have a paucity of possession in most matches in the Premier League, particularly against the top teams, so Atletico, who launch their La Liga campaign at home to Girona on August 20, provided a fitting test.

The Spaniards dominated the possession and the chances in the first half as Yannick Carrasco posed the kind of individual examination Hughton's side will have to counter frequently in the coming months.

The talented Belgian international, drifting inside behind a daunting twin strike force of Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres, tested Ryan with an angled volley through a ruck of players and a shot bound for the far corner of the net after a jinking run.

Ryan was up to the task both times and again to prevent Kayal inadvertently putting through his own net. In the same incident, Carrasco looked unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty for a challenge by Pascal Gross. Referee Kevin Friend penalised him instead for handball.

Set plays will be important to Albion's goal return. Gross, who continued his impressive pre-season form since arriving from Ingolstadt, delivered the one opportunity Albion had in the first half with a free-kick which Shane Duffy headed over via a deflection.

The 42nd minute goal that left the Seagulls trailing at the break is not a moment Ryan will care to remember. He fumbled over the line a routine shot from distance by Nicolas Gaitan.

Hughton made three changes for the second half. Gaetan Bong came on for Gross's ex-Ingolstadt team-mate Markus Suttner at left-back, Steve Sidwell took over from Kayal and March replaced Jamie Murphy on the right.

Albion, exhibiting more attacking purpose, levelled just after the hour. Gaitan's luck with the goal deserted him as he stuck out a foot to divert Gross's low free-kick from 20 yards (above) past Jan Oblak via the keeper's righthand post.

Concentration will be another key factor in the months ahead. It went missing within six minutes of parity being restored, as Torres was left unmarked to nod in Juanfran's right-wing cross.

Give strikers of that quality that kind of room and there is only going to be one outcome.

The response was admirable, two of the subs combining to haul Albion back on terms once more. March skipped to the byline and stood up an inviting cross which Sidwell headed in with Torres-type precision (below).

Albion's unbeaten record through pre-season was on course for preservation when Griezmann uncharacteristically spurned the chance to punish sloppy defending by missing the target.

They went close to grabbing the lead themselves, Gross fizzing an angled effort narrowly wide.

Atletico had the final say, Lucas Hernandez pouncing to hammer in the loose ball in the 89th minute following another fine stop by Ryan to thwart Griezmann.

Hughton was justifiably satisfied. He said: "It was a really good game for us and certainly going into our first game against Man City we couldn't have had a more similar test.

"I'm really pleased Atletico agreed to come. I'd like to think they got good value from being here as well, but it was a really good game for us.

"Overall I was happy with what I saw. Atletico showed the quality they've got on the ball throughout the pitch and rightly so. They are a top team not only in Europe but the world.

"We experienced a lot, had to defend very well, use our shape as well. I was really delighted to get the two goals."

He'll be delighted too if Albion score twice against Man City, as long as Pep Guardiola's galaxy of stars do not outstrip Atletico's tally.

Albion (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Suttner; Murphy, Stephens, Kayal, Brown; Gross; Hemed.

Subs: Bong for Suttner, Sidwell for Kayal, March for Murphy (46); Knockaert for Hemed, Rosenior for Bruno (72); Skalak for March (90), LuaLua for Brown (90).

Unused: Maenpaa, Huenemeier, Goldson.

Atletico (4-4-2): Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Gimenez, Lucas; Gabi, Koke, Gaitan, Carrasco; Griezmann, Torres.

Subs: Godin for Gimenez, Partey for Gabi, Correa for Torres (68); Fernandez for Gaitan (83); Bare for Griezmann (90).

Unused: Moya, Amath, Keidi, Vietto.

Referee: Kevin Friend.

Bookings: Partey (86) foul.

Attendance: 27,343 (830 Atletico).