Antoine Griezmann saves Atletico Madrid again to pressurize Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Sunday by thrashing Levante 1-0.
Griezmann has now scored all of Atletico’s last six goals. A 1-0 victory for Diego Simeone’s side cuts the gap from five points to two behind Barcelona, who will restore their advantage with a win over Eibar later on Sunday.
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 team-mates.”
After a nervy start, Levante began to frustrate their opponents, whose poor decision-making in the final third had Simeone flailing on the touchline.
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. Griezmann banged the penalty into the roof of the net.
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