Atletico raced into a 2-0 interval lead with strikes from Simao Sabrosa and Diego Forlan, only to see that overturned as the hosts came roaring back at the start of the second half.
The visitors had lost Ever Banega to a second yellow card in the 38th minute and Villarreal took full advantage of the extra man, Marcos Senna, Joseba Llorente, Gonzalo and Guiseppe Rossi all getting on the scoresheet.
However, late goals from Simao and Raul Garcia rescued an unlikely point for the visitors from a game in which Villarreal dominated possession and chances.
After falling victim to an early goal in last weekend's Madrid derby, Atletico wasted no time in making their mark on this clash as Simao netted from outside the box with 60 seconds barely on the clock.
The Portugal midfielder latched on to a ball from Mariano Pernia and hammered an instant shot in off the underside of the crossbar with home keeper Diego Lopez still rooted to the spot.
The hosts were shell-shocked but soon responded with a wave of attacks on the visitors' goal.
Rossi got on the end of a Llorente cross but couldn't direct his header on target before Llorente went close with a couple of headers from Senna crosses, the first saved by Leo Franco down to his left, the second dropping wide of the target.
For all the territorial advantage Villarreal were having, it was Atletico who went further ahead after 22 minutes, Forlan hooking home a left-footed shot from a central position inside the 18-yard box.
Atletico's recent troubles showed signs of resurfacing though when Banega was sent off after collecting his second booking for a needless foul on Joan Capdevila.
And worse was to come as, three minutes after the restart, Senna tried his luck with a harmless looking shot from 30 yards and was surprised to see it squirm through the grasp of Leo Franco and into the net.
Three minutes later, Villarreal were level when Llorente poked home a throughball from Rossi to round off a swift counter attack.
Then just before the hour-mark, Rossi lifted a free-kick into the area to find three yellow shirts totally unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box as the Atletico defence attempted to push up and play them offside.
The flag stayed down and Robert Pires cushioned the ball into the path of Gonzalo who smashed the ball into the roof of the net and wheeled away in jubilation.
Villarreal were now threatening to run riot and it was no surprise when they added a fourth when Rossi fired home a left-foot shot on 68 minutes.
At that stage, the points appeared to be going only one way but the complexion of the game changed again when Simao hit a right-footed shot into the bottom corner on 83 minutes.
The hosts suddenly became nervy and were punished when Garcia headed home an in-swinging free-kick from Simao to snatch a dramatic draw.
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