MADRID (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 13 league games after Antoine Griezmann scored twice in a 2-1 home win over Almeria on Sunday as they registered their sixth straight win in Laliga.
Atletico moved to within two points of second-placed rivals Real Madrid but Diego Simeone’s side are 13 points behind league leaders Barcelona. Almeria are 17th, three points above the relegation zone.
Atletico were up and running inside five minutes when Angel Correa cleverly flicked his header from a corner kick into the six-yard box where Griezmann nodded home from point-blank range.
But Almeria got back on level terms in the 37th minute when they pounced on a poor back pass from Correa which set Leo Baptistao on his way down the left against his former club.
The Brazilian quickly took his shot as he was closed down and it deflected off defender Jose Gimenez before looping over Jan Oblak in goal to go down as an own goal.
The visitors’ joy was shortlived, however, as Atletico restored their lead six minutes later with some neat interplay which allowed Yannick Carrasco to cut the ball in to Griezmann who grabbed his second with a smart finish.
Almeria thought they had an opportunity to steal a point in the last minute from the penalty spot when Gimenez handled the ball in the box, but VAR came to Atletico’s rescue, informing the referee that there was an offside in the buildup.
Atletico next travel to Barcelona, the last team to beat them back in January.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
