Griezmann saves Atletico blushes
MADRID:ANTOINE Griezmann came to the rescue again as Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Sunday by edging past Levante.
Griezmann has now scored all of Atletico Madrid’s last six goals and this latest one, from the penalty spot, proved the difference in a cagey contest at the Wanda Metropolitano.
A 1-0 victory for Diego Simeone’s side cuts the gap from five points to two behind Barca, who will restore their advantage with a win over Eibar later on Sunday.
Levante, who have not won in the league since December 3, stay 11th. Atletico had 19 shots and, unusually for them, dominated possession but they continue to rely on Griezmann’s excellent scoring run for points.
“We all pull the cart in difficult moments,” Griezmann said.
“I cannot do anything without my team-mates.” But, in their last five games, it is the Frenchman’s goals that have earned wins over Levante, Real Valladolid and Espanyol, while sparing them defeats away to Sevilla and Girona.
Griezmann was persistent in expressing his desire to win the Ballon d’or in December but since the prize went to Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, he has hit seven goals in seven games. Perhaps a sharpening of focus has done him good too.
He could have scored early but feathered Angel Correa’s cross wide while Koke thought he had, tucking Vitolo’s pass neatly into the corner, only for VAR to find a foul in the build-up.
In between, Stefan Savic sustained a thigh injury and was replaced by Jose Gimenez, who has himself only recently returned from a calf problem, with this his first league appearance since December 8.
SEVILLA’S HOPES FADE WITH LOSS TO BILBAO
BILBAO: Sevilla’s hopes of staying in the La Liga title race faded further with a 2-0 defeat on Sunday at struggling Athletic Bilbao, who boosted their chances of survival with two wonderful goals from Inaki Williams.
The striker, making his 100th consecutive appearance in La Liga, ended a goal drought of more than two years at his club’s San Mames stadium in spectacular style with brilliant goals in each half. The defeat left Sevilla third in the standings on 33 points, seven behind Barcelona.