Griezmann’s hit harasses Barca

Atletico star lauds his teammates

Madrid – Antoine Griezmann came to the rescue again as Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga yesterday by edging past Levante. Griezmann has now scored all of Atletico’s last six goals and this latest one, from the penalty spot, proved the difference in a cagey contest at the Wanda Metropolitano. 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 teammates.” 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 expressed 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.

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. After a nervy start, Levante began to frustrate their opponents. It seemed likely the pressure would pay, however, and 12 minutes into the second half so it proved as Thomas Partey’s cutback struck the hand of Nikola Vukcevic, who had slid to block but left his arm outstretched behind his back. -