It might have escaped the attention of many observers, but Atletico moved joint top with a battling comeback win over Athletic Bilbao.
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Diego Simeone’s side are largely overlooked and underestimated in a country where media coverage and general interest is dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid. Yet Los Rojiblancos have now won four consecutive league games, as well as advancing to the Champions League knockouts, to suggest that they are well on track to land more silverware before the season ends.
Atletico had to do it the hard way on this occasion, after falling behind to a first-half opener from Aymeric Laporte, who swept home unchallenged after a corner was flicked on at the near post.
. @Simeone: “It was a very hard match, it’s not easy when you start one down.” #GoAtleti #AtletiAthletic pic.twitter.com/MGrhLq2NWm
— Atleti English (@atletienglish) December 13, 2015
A great deal of the credit went to Athletic’s veteran striker Aritz Aduriz, who made the corner possible by brilliantly controlling a long ball and producing a deft lob which was tipped over the top by Jan Oblak.
There was little to choose between the sides in the opening period and it appeared that Athletic would take their advantage into the interval, with the hosts struggling to create chances.
But then Atletico drew themselves level on the stroke of halftime, and their goal came through a familiar route as Koke’s inswinging corner was decisively headed home at the near post by midfielder Saul.
Despite that setback, the visitors dominated the early stages of the second half and twice came close to retaking the lead, firstly when right back Eneko Boveda advanced into the box to fire a narrow-angled shot which demanded an outstanding low save from Oblak.
Then came an even better opportunity as Inaki Williams brilliantly dummied a pass from Ander Iturraspe, allowing Aduriz to advance clean through, only for Oblak to race out and make another stop.
After surviving those scares, Atletico claimed the victory when a loose ball dropped to Antoine Griezmann and the Frenchman launched a superb first-time 25- yard arrow into the bottom corner.
