A fatal goal from Suarez returns Atletico to the top of the Spanish League
Atletico Madrid reaffirmed its seriousness in competing for its first title since 2014, after it started the new year with a fourth successive victory that brought it back to the top against its arch-rival Real Madrid, and came to host Deportivo Alaves with great difficulty 2-1 thanks to a goal in the last seconds of Uruguayan Luis Suarez on Sunday in the stage 17 of the Spanish League.
Argentine coach Diego Simeone's team entered their first game of the new year, second-place, one point behind arch-holders Real, who beat Celta Vigo 2-0 on Saturday.
However, the Los Rojiblancos players continued their journey the way they finished 2020 and achieved their fourth successive and twelfth victory this season, leading again by two points with two postponed matches in their collection from the first two stages against Levante and Sevilla, and if they win it they will greatly enhance their chances of a first title since 2014.
And just as he did against the other two big players Barcelona (1-1) and Real Madrid (1-2 away) or even the surprise of the season Real Sociedad (0-0), Alves made his guest suffer in the first half, but Faraj came in the last minutes through brilliant Marcos Laurenti, who received the ball from Uruguayan Luis Suarez after a counterattack, then launched it from outside the area into the net (41), scoring his sixth goal this season.
Despite his persistent attempts and Alaves had to complete the match with ten players after the expulsion of defender Victor Lagardia (63), Atletico's advance remained threatening throughout the second half after he was unable to reach goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco again.
And when he thought that he marched the three points to safety, Alaves surprised him with a deadly draw in the 84th minute with friendly fire through the Brazilian defender Felipe, but Suarez said his word and gave the capital club the victory with his ninth goal with his new team's shirt, after a cross from Portuguese substitute Joao Felix.
Athletic Bilbao remained close to European centers by defeating its injured guest El Che with a single goal scored by Iker Munyan (25), raising the Basque club's score to 21 points in ninth place.
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