Atletico triumph over Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga clash

MADRID: Atletico Madrid showcased their dominance in a thrilling encounter against Athletic Bilbao, emerging victorious with a 3-1 win at home in LaLiga. The clash, held on Saturday, saw Diego Simeone’s squad take a significant step towards securing a coveted top-four finish.

In the 15th minute, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul ignited the home crowd with a remarkable goal from outside the box, capitalizing on a clearance to find the back of the net. Despite Athletic’s resilience, Atletico maintained their lead until just before halftime, when Nico Williams capitalized on a careless pass from Antoine Griezmann to level the score.

However, Atletico quickly regained control in the second half, with Angel Correa restoring their lead in the 52nd minute. The momentum continued to swing in their favor as goalkeeper Unai Simon unintentionally contributed to Atletico’s victory with an own goal, sealing the match at 3-1.

With this crucial win, Atletico Madrid solidified their fourth-place standing in the league, amassing 64 points from 33 games. Additionally, they widened the gap between themselves and Athletic Bilbao to six points, reaffirming their position as contenders for European qualification.