Title-chasing Atletico Madrid retained top spot in La Liga with an action-packed and hugely-impressive 2-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao.
The Basque club took an early lead when a long ball through the middle from Mikel San Jose was flicked goalwards by Aritz Aduriz, and Iker Muniain nipped in between Juanfran and Thibaut Courtois to lift a cushioned volley into the net.
Atletico frontman Diego Costa could have soon levelled when he was played through by a superb pass from Koke, but Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz stood tall to make a good save.
Costa squandered another opportunity by slashing a half-volley high and wide, but the powerful striker made it third time lucky to equalise with a cool left-footed shot after another throughball from Koke.
Atletico came close to taking the lead when Costa’s back heelreleased Filipe Luis who delivered a low cross to pick out Raul Garcia, but his shot flew well over the bar.
Then the hosts came close again as Aduriz nodded a long pass into the path of Markel Susaeta, whose header beat the advancing Courtois but bounced narrowly wide of the post.
The second half started in explosive fashion as Costa needed just 20 seconds to race through and drag a shot just wide.
And he was then understandably furious to be denied a penalty when he was clearly caught inside the penalty area by Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte.
Oscar De Marcos then should have restored the hosts’ advantage after dispossessing Diego Godin, but he shot badly over the bar from 12 yards.
And Atletico made the hosts pay by going ahead as Koke released Luis on the left and continued his run to convert a deft header from the Brazilian full-back’s excellent cross.
A deflected strike from De Marcos flew inches over the bar and Aduriz’s header forced Courtois into a leaping stop as Bilbao went in search of a leveller, and Belgian shot-stopper Courtois then made a magnificent save to keep out Aduriz’s header.
Laporte was sent off for hauling down the burly Costa as the action continued to flow until the final whistle signalled another win for Diego Simeone’s unstoppable machine
