The crowd at La Cerámica was silenced early by Diego Simeone’s team in the ninth minute Axel Witsel slid Riquelme’s corner into the net. The “mattresses” tried to score their second goal in the first half, but the defense led by veteran Raúl Albiol and goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen did not capitulate several times before the break.
The second half also brought an early goal, in the 50th minute Alexander Sörloth shot flat between the legs of the defenders into the bottom left corner. In the continuation, the home team dominated, but – just like Atlético in the first half – they could not score another goal. At the start, Villarreal missed a huge jump through Parejo, and the guests punished this with a goal: Saul Niguez He slotted into the bottom right corner from 15 meters.
The routine midfielder’s goal brought victory to Atlético, which ended the home team’s nine-game unbeaten streak and – ahead of Athletic Bilbao, who lost to Real Madrid – climbed to fourth place in the Champions League.
SUMMARY
SPANISH LA LIGA
ROUND 30
Villarreal–Atlético Madrid 1–2 (Sörloth 50, or Witsel 9, Saúl 87)
THEY PLAYED ON SUNDAY
Real Madrid–Athletic Bilbao 2–0 (Rodrigo 8., 73.)
Alavés–Real Sociedad 0–1 (J. Pacheco 59.)
Celta Vigo–Rayo Vallecano 0–0
Girona–Real Betis 3–2 (Dovbik 36th, 65th – the first from 11, Stuani 90+2nd, or Willian José 45th+4th, 76th)
THEY PLAYED ON SATURDAY
Getafe–Sevilla 0–1 (Ramos 5.)
Almeria–Osasuna 0–3 (Arnaiz 2., Budimir 9., Iker Munoz 62.)
Valencia–Mallorca 0–0
Barcelona–Las Palmas 1–0 (Raphinha 59.)
Exhibited: Valles (25, Las Palmas)
THEY PLAYED ON FRIDAY
Cadiz–Granada 1–0 (R. Navarro 51.)
THE JOBMGYDVLG–KGGKP1. Real Madrid30236166–20+46752. Barcelona30207361–34+27673. Girona30205562–36+26654. Atlético Madrid30184856–35+21585. Athletic Bilbao30168650–28+22566. Royal Society301310743–31+12497. Betis301012836–360428. Valencia291181032–320419. Health301161336–43–73910. Villarreal301081248–53–53811. Getafe309111037–43–63812. The Palms301071329–33–43713. Alaves30881426–36–103214. Sevilla307101337–44–73115. Mallorca306131125–35–103116. Rayo Vallecano306121225–38–133017. Celta Vigo306101432–44–122818. Cadiz304131321–40–192519. Granada29281930–59–291420. Almeria301101928–60–3213