Madrid (AFP)
Thanks to a saving goal from star striker Luis Suarez, Atlético Madrid snatched a 2-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday in a late game of La Liga Matchday 18, and regained ground on their direct rivals in top of the ranking.
The "Colchoneros" conceded the first goal, a missed recovery from Iker Munian on a retreating cross from Inaki Williams who still went to the bottom (21st), but reacted first with a header from Marcos Llorente, perfectly found by a center from Thomas Lemar just before the break (45th + 2), then a penalty caused and transformed by the inevitable Uruguayan (51st).
In the wake of his return to form this weekend, with a goal scored in the derby of the Spanish capital against Real, the "Pistolero" again allowed the "Rojiblancos" to breathe at the top of the standings, one week away a decisive round of 16 second leg in the Champions League at Chelsea (1-0 defeat in the first leg).
With this success, Atlético now has 6 points ahead of its first pursuer, FC Barcelona (2nd, 56 pts), and 8 points ahead of its neighbor, Real Madrid (3rd, 54 pts).
Above all, the Colchoneros have now also played 26 league games as their main contenders for the title, and will be able to approach the final quarter of the championship eye to eye with their rivals.
One of the big satisfactions on the Madrid side was Thomas Lemar: the French international, returned to his best level this season and who has been shining since the start of the year, illuminated the "rojiblancas" offensives and asserted himself as an essential element of Diego Simeone's device.
The Basques, for their part, may harbor some regrets: they dominated the start of the first period and held the three points for a short half an hour ... before the leader imposed his authority.
Still 8th in the standings, the winner of the last Spanish Supercup against Barça in January, remains at the gates of Europe, nine points behind Betis (6th) ... but will be able to console himself in April with two Cup finals of the King in two weeks (that of 2020 postponed against Real Sociedad, and that of 2021 against Barça).
© 2021 AFP