Madrid (AFP)

Before facing Bayern Munich on Tuesday in C1, Atlético Madrid chained a 6th success in a row in the league at Valencia 1-0 on Saturday for the 11th day, and thus comes back to the height of Real Sociedad (23 pts), leader , which travels Sunday to Villarreal (9:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. GMT).

The Madrilenians largely dominated the meeting, but took the advantage on a lucky goal: the Valencian defender Toni Lato involuntarily pushed a ball trailing in the area in his own net ten minutes from the final whistle (79th).

Three days before a decisive poster against the reigning European champion, Bayern Munich, Tuesday (9 p.m.) to try to get their ticket for the knockout stages of the Champions League, the Madrilenians blew the executives and have managed to string together a 25th unbeaten game in La Liga.

An impressive series that has lasted since the setback suffered against Real Madrid on February 1 (1-0).

While Yannick Carrasco and Joao Felix, for example, were able to breathe in the first period (in the absence of Diego Costa, victim of phlebitis in the right foot, and Luis Suarez, due to Covid-19), Diego's men Simeone have proven that changes to their gaming system are taking root.

- Lemar, man of the match -

While ensuring their defensive base (Atlético remains the best defense in La Liga with only two goals conceded since the start of the season), the “Rojiblancos” now have a sparkling attacking game, made up of short redoubled passes.

Like the first five minutes served by the Madrilenians, on a very high pace and with a huge volume of play.

For his third start of the season, the French international Thomas Lemar delivered a big performance: he was one of the few to carry the danger in front of the Valencian cages, with a well-fired free kick and two strikes that had to be hijacked by Jaume Domenech.

Lemar was heavily involved in Atlético's offensive game, managed to regain his sharp side as soon as he took the ball, and directed the game in Madrid.

A performance that earned him the title of man of the match.

In addition to goalkeeper Jan Oblak's 200th game in La Liga (including 112 without conceding a goal), this meeting was necessarily special for the former French international Geoffrey Kondogbia (27 years old, 5 caps), transferred from Valencia to Madrid on November 3 , and which returned for the first time to Mestalla under its new colors.

Valencia, for its part, already entangled in an institutional and economic crisis, suffered a fifth setback in eleven matches, and continues to sink in the standings, in 10th place ...

On Saturday night (9:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. GMT), reigning Spanish champions Real Madrid will have a chance to regain the provisional La Liga podium against Alavés.

© 2020 AFP