MADRID (REUTERS) - Real Madrid won 2-0 against a listless Atletico Madrid on Sunday (Dec 12), securing a 10th straight victory in all competitions that tightened their grip on top spot in LaLiga. Karim Benzema, who had been a doubt for the game with a leg injury and only played the first 45 minutes, made the most of his time on the pitch, hitting a beautiful volley from Vinicius Jr's perfect cross to open the scoring in the first half. It was the 17th goal of his career against Atletico and 13th of the season to lead the LaLiga scoring chart. Vinicius Jr did not score but was man of the match after earning another assist early in the second half, this time for Marco Asensio as Real extended to 11 their unbeaten streak against their local rivals in LaLiga. Carlo Ancelotti's team are currently cruising at the top of the table, eight points clear of second-placed Sevilla and 13 above Atletico in fourth, albeit having played a game more than both. "To win a derby is very important to our fans and I bet they left the stadium really happy," Asensio told reporters. "Vinicius is playing really well, we are delighted with his progression this season. He is doing it all, scoring, assisting. We are all happy for him." The home team were in total control from start to finish with the Santiago Bernabeu crowd chanting "Ole" in unison when there were still 25 minutes to play in the second half. It was their fourth consecutive game without conceding a single goal. Fan favourite Vinicius, who got a standing ovation when receiving LaLiga's player of the month trophy before the game, is yet to score a goal against Atletico in his four seasons in Spain, but on Sunday he turned provider for his team mates. He started the counter-attack that ended with Benzema's opener, stealing the ball in midfield and sprinting all the way up-front to receive a pass from Asensio and cross for Benzema to smash a volley into the net. After the break, he led another counter, showing good vision to feed the ball to Asensio to score. The defeat was a blow for Atletico, who have not won a Madrid derby in the league since February 2016. More on this topic Related Story Football: Real Madrid blow away Granada to keep pressure on Atletico Related Story Football: Real Madrid fighting fit to put pressure on La Liga leaders Sociedad and rivals
MADRID (REUTERS) - A stunning header from Junior Messias in the dying minutes handed AC Milan a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid and kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the last-16 in the Champions League on Wednesday (Nov 24). Milan arrived in Madrid rooted to the bottom of Group B with only one point and anything but a win against Atletico would have eliminated them from this season's competition. Wednesday's result means the race to see who will join group winners Liverpool in the next round will go down to the wire. Porto, who are on five points, as well as Milan and Atletico, who are tied on four points, will have to wait until the final round of fixtures to decide who will finish second, and hence progress to the last 16. Milan will host Liverpool while Atletico will travel to Porto on Dec 7 for the final Group B fixtures. In a freezing night in Madrid, a packed crowd at the Metropolitano Stadium failed to spur on Atletico, who struggled to make any kind of impact against a Milan side who showed urgency and aggression in a must-win situation. Brazilian Messias broke the deadlock in the 87th minute with a spectacular header after latching on to a perfect cross from Franck Kessie. More on this topic Related Story Football: Liverpool maintain perfect record with 2-0 win over Porto Related Story Football: Ronaldo fires Manchester United into Champions League last 16
MADRID (REUTERS) - Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah netted a double, including the winner, as they secured a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, whose forward Antoine Griezmann also scored twice but was sent off in a gripping Champions League clash on Tuesday (Oct 19). Salah fired home the winner from the spot after Griezmann had seen red for a dangerous high boot, but the action was not over in a compelling encounter, with Atletico awarded a penalty of their own, before it was overturned following a VAR review. The win kept Liverpool top in Group B on nine points, five ahead of second-placed Atletico and Porto in third, with AC Milan pointless at the foot of the table. “Honestly, how you win it, I couldn’t care less. The dirty ones are the really important ones. When we are flying we win the games anyway, but on a night like this getting three points is really massive,” Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp told BT Sport. Salah opened the scoring with a deflected effort in the eighth minute and Naby Keita added a second with a thunderous volley five minutes later as Liverpool looked set to crush Diego Simeone’s side. However, Liverpool’s defence imploded shortly afterwards and Atletico came roaring back, with Griezmann at the centre of the action. First he steered home a Koke shot in the 20th minute to reduce the deficit and 14 minutes later he drew his side level, a superb first touch opening up the space in front of him for a clinical finish low past Alisson’s left hand. After a frenetic opening 45 minutes, Liverpool finished the first half on the ropes, but a reprieve was not long coming as the second period got underway. Yannick Carrasco forced an early save from Alisson but then Griezmann was shown a straight red card seven minutes after the break for carelessly planting his foot in the face of Roberto Firmino as he challenged for a high ball. Simeone’s reaction was to keep urging the home crowd on and his team looked capable of hanging on with 10 men until another costly lapse. Defender Mario Hermoso conceded a penalty by barging into Diogo Jota, and Salah made no mistake from the spot to put Liverpool back in the lead. However, Liverpool seemingly tripped themselves up again when Atletico Madrid were awarded a penalty after Jota appeared to bundle over Jose Maria Gimenez, but the decision was overturned after a lengthy VAR review. Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez came off the bench and flashed a stoppage-time shot over the bar before being booked for an angry exchange with the referee as he sought to find an equaliser for his side. With seven minutes of stoppage time added on, Liverpool were left hanging on, but they managed to see the game out. More on this topic Related Story Football: Man City crush Brugge to re-energise Champions League push Related Story Football: Messi and Mbappe lead PSG to Champions League victory against Leipzig Related Story Football: Benzema scores in Champions League rout for Real Madrid on eve of his trial
MADRID (REUTERS) - Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez heaped more misery on his old club as Atletico Madrid claimed a 2-0 LaLiga victory over the Catalans at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday (Oct 2). First-half strikes from Thomas Lemar and Suarez were enough for the champions to secure all three points and heap pressure on the visitors' beleaguered boss Ronald Koeman. Barca have won just one game in their last six in all competitions as their early season struggles show no signs of easing. "We're suffering, I'm going to be honest with you," Barca defender Gerard Pique said. "We started well enough, we were brave, but then they create two identical situations and scored twice - whereas we could've played for three hours and not scored. "It isn't one problem, there are several. People can see what we lack. But we'll recover. They're difficult times, a lot of us haven't experienced this before. We want to turn it around but it isn't easy." Atletico started the brighter and went close through Lemar and Joao Felix efforts from the edge of the box before the Frenchman opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Felix fed Suarez, who played a brilliant ball round the corner to send Lemar through and he powered his effort past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Suarez then missed a glorious chance to double the lead moments later as he skewed a one-on-one effort wide, but made no mistake on the stroke of halftime after Lemar returned the favour to tee him up. Barca's best opportunity to get back into the game fell to Philippe Coutinho, however the Brazilian's tame effort was comfortable saved by Jan Oblak. Victory moved Atletico level with table toppers Real Madrid, who travel to Barca's city rivals Espanyol on Sunday, on 17 points from eight games. Barcelona, meanwhile, sit ninth with 12 points having played a game fewer. More on this topic Related Story Football: Beleaguered Barcelona thumped by Benfica in Champions League Related Story Football: Barcelona's new wage bill now capped at less than Watford's
MILAN, (REUTERS) - Luis Suarez's stoppage-time penalty and Antoine Griezmann's first goal since returning to Atletico Madrid earned the Spanish side a 2-1 victory over 10-man AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday (Sept 28). Griezmann, who rejoined Atletico last month on a season-long loan from Barcelona, pounced in the 84th minute to level, before Suarez grabbed Diego Simeone's side their first win in this season's competition in the 97th minute in dramatic fashion. Milan, competing in their first Champions League match in their San Siro stadium since 2014, had looked on course for victory as they held on to the lead given to them by Rafael Leao in the 20th minute, despite Franck Kessie's first-half red card. But, as the game wore on, Milan retreated further and further back and Griezmann finally made the Atletico pressure count, firing into the bottom corner to level. Pierre Kalulu was then adjudged to have handled the ball in stoppage time to give Atletico the chance to snatch a dramatic victory at the death, with Suarez converting from the spot to a chorus of boos. The result leaves Milan without a point at the bottom of Group B, while Atletico are second with four, trailing leaders Liverpool, Suarez's former team, by two points following the Premier League side's 5-1 win over Porto in Portugal. "I'm very proud to be here," Griezmann said. "I think the fans want to see me like this like tonight. I want to bring them happiness and they'll be going to bed happy tonight." Milan supporters had been waiting a long time for this sort of occasion. Atletico were in fact the last side to face them in the Champions League in the San Siro before Tuesday's encounter, back in February 2014, when a Diego Costa goal was enough to earn the Spaniards victory. The iconic San Siro was abuzz ahead of the match. Stadiums are currently permitted to be only 50 per cent full in Italy, but the majority of those fans were concentrated together in a packed Curva Sud and roared out their team for the warm-up like they had just won the final. When the Curva unveiled their banner, in English, pre-match, the message was a simple one: "Milan is back". More on this topic Related Story Football: Salah strikes twice as Liverpool thrash injury-hit Porto in Champions League Related Story Football: Messi off the mark for PSG in Champions League win over Man City The raucous crowd, who bellowed out the Champions League anthem with gusto, seemed to give Milan extra energy, as they flew out of the traps early on. Moments after Ante Rebic should have opened the scoring, Leao did, drilling home to spark wild scenes of celebration in the stands. That euphoria was short-lived, however, as Kessie was given his marching orders following his second booking for a foul on Marcos Llorente before the half-hour mark, much to the hosts' fury. "I don't think it was the best evening for the referee," Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. "The numerical inferiority forced us to play another type of match, after the sending off there were many difficulties." More on this topic Related Story Football: Sheriff Tiraspol stun Real Madrid with shock away victory in Champions League Related Story Football: Chelsea's Kante tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Juventus clash Suarez was looking the most likely to get Atletico level, but it was left to Griezmann, who returned to the Spanish club at the start of the season after being sold to Barcelona for a reported fee of €120 million (S$190 million) in 2019, to get the vital equaliser. The drama was not done, however, as referee Cuneyt Cakir, villain of the evening for the home fans, pointed to the spot, before Suarez coolly silenced the San Siro.
MADRID (AFP) - Luis Suarez scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat 10-man Getafe 2-1 and move top of La Liga on Tuesday (Sept 21). Hosts Getafe took the lead through Stefan Mitrovic on the stroke of half-time, but the game changed when Carles Alena was sent off in the 74th minute. Reigning champions Atletico are now a point clear of city rivals Real Madrid who host Real Mallorca on Wednesday. "In the first half, we had a lack of movement, of dynamism, and the match was flat until the opponents' goal," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. "In the second period, the match had more rhythm, more intensity, we had more efficiency in attack." A goalless draw with fellow unbeaten side Athletic Bilbao at the weekend saw them drop two points behind Real in the early table and Simeone's men were far from convincing again for long stages. A limp first-half display from the visitors ended in poor fashion as Getafe defender Mitrovic headed home. Antoine Griezmann and Suarez, who saw a header strike the crossbar, both went close to an equaliser before former Barcelona midfielder Alena gave Atletico a helping hand. Alena, who had already been booked, was given a straight red card following a VAR review for a poor studs-up challenge on Brazilian international Matheus Cunha. Suarez made Alena pay only four minutes later, running onto Mario Hermoso's long pass and lashing a left-footed shot into the roof of the net. The Uruguayan completed the comeback just as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, nodding in at the back post as Getafe goalkeeper David Soria backtracked after initially attempting to collect Sime Vrsaljko's cross. Suarez, who was making only his third league start in six games this term, has now scored three La Liga goals this season. Griezmann, though, is still yet to find the net in four appearances since rejoining the club from Barcelona. "He is in the process of adapting to this new Atletico, which is no longer the Atletico he had known," said Simeone of the Frenchman. "I'm sure he will shine like before, I have no doubts." Elsewhere on Wednesday, Bilbao lost 2-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano, for whom Colombian veteran Falcao scored his first goal in memorable style, a winner six minutes into injury time. And Celta Vigo notched up their first victory of the campaign by beating winless Levante 2-0 thanks to goals from Iago Aspas and Brais Mendez.
MADRID (AFP) - A 14-year-old boy died on Saturday (May 22) during celebrations of Atletico Madrid's La Liga title victory in the Spanish capital, emergency services told AFP. The incident happened as the teenager was in a van with friends. He is believed to have suffered a brain injury after hitting his head against the wall of an underground car park. Emergency services workers attempted to resuscitate the teenager for an hour. At the time of the accident, more than 2,000 Atletico supporters were celebrating their side's 11th league title win around Neptune Fountain. Atletico have traditionally celebrated victories in the monument but authorities had banned all public gatherings due to Covid-19 restrictions. "It's a little strange for a celebration... We've not been able to celebrate like usual, in the stadium, surrounded by all the fans," 22-year-old Atleti fan Pablo Diaz told AFP. "We will celebrate it with a bit of worry, by paying attention, with the mask on," he added. The club have organised a parade at 1800 local time (1600GMT) on Sunday in line with coronavirus regulations. More on this topic Related Story Football: Atletico Madrid crowned Spanish La Liga champions Related Story Five matches that won Atletico Madrid La Liga
VALLADOLID, SPAIN (AFP) - Diego Simeone said Atletico Madrid winning La Liga was a triumph of overcoming adversity after his team were on Saturday (May 22) crowned champions for the second time in seven years. Atletico beat Real Valladolid 2-1 to finish two points ahead of Real Madrid at the end of a draining season shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic. "It's been a very hard year for us and for the world, difficult for every team and in such a tough season Atletico has come out as champions," said Simeone. "That is symbolic, it speaks of the club and the team being made of something different, that in difficult moments, when everything seems impossible, with the pandemic and the injuries and without fans in the stadiums - with all this, our players gave it everything and they came out on top." Luis Suarez scored the winner, his 21st goal of the season proving to be the one that clinched the title for Atletico, eight months after he was forced to leave Barcelona. "Suarez is a man of character. He's defiant, he's a goalscorer, a guy who after leaving an extraordinary club like Barcelona wanted to continue to show that he is among the best in the world," Simeone said. "The team helped him, he integrated quickly and felt very comfortable and that's why he ended up having a fantastic season." More on this topic Related Story Football: Atletico Madrid crowned Spanish La Liga champions Related Story Football: Emotional Suarez thanks Atletico for rescuing him from Barca Related Story Five matches that won Atletico Madrid La Liga
MADRID (REUTERS) - Atletico Madrid took a giant step towards the La Liga title in dramatic circumstances by fighting their way back to beat Osasuna 2-1 at home on Sunday(May 16) thanks to a late strike from Luis Suarez. Atletico dominated the game and hit the woodwork twice in the first half before having two goals ruled out for offside but fell behind in the 76th minute when a bullet header from Ante Budimir crossed the line before Jan Oblak could punch it away. Atletico hit back with an emphatic finish from substitute Renan Lodi in the 82nd minute while top scorer Suarez completed the comeback by firing home from inside the area in the 88th. Diego Simeone's side nearly conceded an equaliser deep into added time though when Chimy Avila caught sight of goal but Oblak got across to parry before grabbing the ball with both hands. The victory took Atletico on to 83 points after 37 games, two ahead of second-placed Real Madrid who won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao. Atletico visit Real Valladolid on the final day of the season next Sunday while Real host Villarreal. More on this topic Related Story Football: Atletico latest club to abandon Super League Related Story Football: Real Madrid blow away Granada to keep pressure on Atletico
MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid kept the pressure on Atletico Madrid by thrashing Granada 4-1 on Thursday (May 13) to reduce the gap to two points at the top of La Liga, with two games left to play. A draw or defeat for Real Madrid would have given Atletico the chance to win the title on Sunday by beating Osasuna but goals from Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Alvaro Odriozola and Karim Benzema secured a comfortable victory at Los Carmenes. Atletico could still be crowned champions this weekend if they overcome Osasuna and Real Madrid fail to win away at Athletic Bilbao but the Spanish title race has been full of surprises and still nothing is guaranteed.
MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi scored a brilliant volley but Barcelona's title hopes could be over, with a 3-3 draw away at Levante on Tuesday (May 11) giving Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid the chance to pull away at the top of La Liga. Another slip could prove decisive given Atletico will move four points clear of Barca with two games left if they can win away at Real Sociedad on Wednesday. Real Madrid will edge two points ahead of Ronald Koeman's side if they win away on Thursday at Granada. There are certainly no guarantees in what has been a frenetic and thrilling title race in recent weeks, with all of Spain's four contenders stumbling down the final stretch. But with only two games left now and potentially two teams to catch, Barcelona's chances of taking the title off Real Madrid this season would appear remote.
MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid's 94th-minute equaliser salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against Sevilla on Sunday (May 9) as an extraordinary penalty decision swung La Liga's title race back in Atletico Madrid's favour. Zinedine Zidane's side had levelled through Marco Asensio midway through the second half and thought they had a penalty when Karim Benzema was brought down after rounding Sevilla goalkeeper Bono. But VAR prompted referee Juan Martinez to check an Eder Militao handball a few seconds before, with a huge decision seeing Madrid's penalty cancelled and a spot-kick awarded to Sevilla instead. Ivan Rakitic converted and while Madrid still managed to hit back in injury time, Toni Kroos' shot squirming in off Diego Carlos, the draw hands the advantage back to Atletico at the end of another dramatic weekend in the Spanish title race. More on this topic Related Story Football: Stalemate between Atletico and Barca hands advantage to Real Madrid
MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona spurned the chance to go top of the table on Thursday (April 29) as a shock 2-1 defeat by Granada added another twist to La Liga's most unpredictable title race in years. Barca could have taken control at the top by moving a point ahead of Atletico Madrid but Granada came from behind to snatch a stunning win at Camp Nou, in what will be a huge boost to the other title contenders. Lionel Messi scored his 33rd goal of the season to put Barcelona in front but they failed to put the result beyond doubt and Granada hit back, Darwin Machis driving in and Jorge Molina's header completing a remarkable turnaround. Defeat means Barca took nothing from their game in hand except disappointment, which might be difficult to shake ahead of two crunch games now away at Valencia and at home to Atletico Madrid. They stay third, level on points with Real Madrid, as Atletico retain their two-point advantage at the top, while Sevilla in fourth remain just three points off first. "It's a huge blow, we're disappointed," said Ronald Koeman. "We switched off at the back. We left spaces we had to close." Any of the four contenders could be crowned champions next month, with all of the top three squandering opportunities to take charge in the last week. Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw by Real Betis on Saturday before Atletico failed to take advantage as they were beaten by Athletic Bilbao. Those results opened the door to Barcelona, but now they too have stumbled. "We no longer have it in our hands," said Barca defender Jordi Alba. "We have to finish these games off." Granada's victory adds another significant chapter to what has been an incredible season for Diego Martinez's side, who were promoted from Spain's second tier only two years ago. They reached the Europa League quarter-finals earlier this month only to be beaten by Manchester United and now sit eighth in La Liga, with European qualification not yet out of sight. "It was a titanic effort from the players," said Martinez. "It's an epic night for the club." It started well for Barcelona, who pulled in front in the 23rd minute, a delightful turn and pass by Antoine Griezmann allowing Messi to drive into the far corner from the angle. The chances were there for a second, the best of them falling to Sergi Roberto, who volleyed over a cut-back from Frenkie de Jong, but Granada remained in touch. Roberto Soldado might have equalised had he not opted to pass instead of shoot and then Machis did, latching onto a superb pass by Luis Suarez and finishing past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Koeman was sent to the stands for his protests and Gerard Pique almost turned in a Griezmann ball to the front post, after Messi's free-kick had spun wide off the wall. Instead, Granada came again, more good work from Suarez in midfield allowing Adrian Marin to cross into the box, where Molina did brilliantly to dip his head and glance the ball into the far corner.
SEVILLE (REUTERS) - Atletico Madrid returned to the top of La Liga with a 1-1 draw away to Real Betis on Sunday (April 11) but did so at the expense of losing yet more players to injury, leaving their title hopes hanging by a thread. Diego Simeone's side got off to an ideal start when Yannick Carrasco dribbled into an empty net in the fifth minute thanks to a lucky bounce but Betis levelled with a thumping volley from Cristian Tello in the 20th. Atletico then lost record signing Joao Felix plus right back Kieran Trippier to injury in the second half, adding to an absentee list also containing Luis Suarez, Thomas Lemar and latest signing Moussa Dembele. They were fortunate to avoid conceding again as Betis dominated the second half and missed several chances to take the lead. Yet Atletico were not far from snatching a winner, striker Angel Correa forcing two fine saves from Claudio Bravo in stoppage time. Atletico returned to the summit on 67 points, one ahead of Real Madrid and two clear of Barcelona with eight games remaining.
LONDON (REUTERS) - Chelsea beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday (March 17) to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2014 as Hakim Ziyech and Emerson Palmieri were on target to give coach Thomas Tuchel's rejuvenated team a 3-0 aggregate win. Ziyech squeezed the ball under Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the 34th minute of the last-16 second leg as he connected with a cross from Timo Werner who had raced down the left after being fed by fellow German Kai Havertz. Substitute Emerson made sure of the victory with a 94th-minute strike for Chelsea's second goal. Atletico were left to rue referee Daniele Orsato's decision not to give a penalty when, with the score at 0-0, Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta underhit a back pass and put his arm around Yannick Carrasco who went down in the box. The visitors finished the game with 10 men after Stefan Savic was shown a red card in the 82nd minute for elbowing Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger in the chest at a corner.
MADRID (REUTERS) - La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 away to struggling Getafe on Saturday (March 13), despite playing the latter stages of the game with an extra man, offering renewed hope to title rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona. Getafe's Allan Nyom was shown a red card after a VAR review for a crunching tackle on Atletico's Renan Lodi in the 70th minute but the visitors could not make their advantage count Atletico did manage to put the ball in the net in the second half when Joao Felix nodded in a cross from Marcos Llorente but it did not count as the ball had gone out of play, while substitute Moussa Dembele missed two good chances to score. Diego Simeone's side lead the standings on 63 points while Real Madrid are second on 57 and third-placed Barcelona can reduce the gap behind Atletico to four points if they beat Huesca at home on Monday.
MADRID (REUTERS) - Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema struck an 88th-minute equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw at La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid on Sunday (March 7) and keep his side in the title race. Luis Suarez had put the hosts in charge in the 15th minute, producing an ice-cool finish to beat Thibaut Courtois after a lung-bursting run forward from his own half by midfielder Marcos Llorente. The Uruguayan was denied a second goal later in the half by former Atletico keeper Courtois and early in the second period, while the Belgian also thwarted his compatriot Yannick Carrasco from point-blank range. Benzema, who returned after missing Real's last three matches through injury, was the champions' focal point in attack and spurned three chances to score before equalising late on, playing a one-two with Casemiro to tap into the net. An Atletico victory would have taken Diego Simeone's side eight points clear of their city rivals but Benzema's leveller means they lead third-placed Real by five points while Barcelona, in second, are three points behind. Atletico can tighten their grip on top spot when they host Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, however. Captain Koke rued the late equaliser after his side had bossed the game. "We were superior to them but they can score against you at any moment," he told reporters. "We brought fresh players on and tried to add to our lead but we were up against a great rival who have a lot of power up front. "We have never said the title race is over and we know it's going to go down to the wire but we have to now focus on Wednesday, when we have a chance to pick up more points and our rivals do not." Atletico coach Diego Simeone welcomed back England defender Kieran Tripper after more than two months out suspended but benched 126-million-euro forward Joao Felix before introducing the Portuguese in the second half. The visitors appealed loudly for a penalty shortly before halftime when Atletico defender Felipe appeared to handle the ball while Suarez and Real's Lucas Vazquez clashed when the two teams headed off for the halftime break after disagreeing over a tackle from Casemiro on Thomas Lemar. Real were still missing key players such as captain Sergio Ramos and Eden Hazard but crucially could count on the return of top scorer Benzema. The Frenchman was thwarted from close range by Atletico keeper Jan Oblak and then saw a powerful free kick tipped away by the Slovenian, but finally got the better of him to complete a quick counter-attack. "I think they were better in the first half and we were better in the second and this is a good point for us," said Benzema. "The result means the title race is still on our minds." More on this topic Related Story Football: Real to keep calm and carry on after winning streak disrupted - Zidane Related Story Football: Spain looks to Real Madrid and Atletico to halt La Liga decline
VILA-REAL (REUTERS) - La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid secured a vital 2-0 win away to Villarreal on Sunday (Feb 28) to reaffirm their title ambitions following a difficult run of results. Diego Simeone's side were smarting from twin defeats to Levante and Chelsea but went ahead in the 25th minute courtesy of an Alfonso Pedraza own goal following a goalmouth scramble, the strike being flagged offside then given after a VAR review. Atletico survived another video review just before halftime when Thomas Lemar was shown a yellow card rather than a red for elbowing an opponent before record signing Joao Felix came off the bench to double their lead in the 69th on the volley. A first win in four games in all competitions moved Atletico on to 58 points after 24 games, five clear of second-placed Barcelona, who have played 25, and six above third-placed Real Madrid. More on this topic Related Story Football: Atletico Madrid stumble again to keep La Liga title race alive Related Story Football: Spain looks to Real Madrid and Atletico to halt La Liga decline