ATLETICO MADRID closed the gap on leaders Barcelona with a narrow victory at Eibar.
Diego Simeone's side would have been expecting a tough clash at the Estadio Ipurua, and that's exactly what they got on Saturday evening.
Fortunately for the visitors, they were able to come away from the north with all three points thanks to Kevin Gameiro.
The Frenchman struck the killer blow after 27 minutes.
Fellow countrymen Antoine Griezmann sprang the offside trap as he raced onto Saul's through ball and he kept his cool to square to the attacker to fire home.
Eibar nearly responded instantly with a quick equaliser. Joan Jordan got free down the flank and crossed for Sergi Enrich to meet, but the star's header went just over the crossbar.
After the break the hosts upped the tempo and enjoyed plenty of possession as they searched for an equaliser. Half time sub Fabian Orellana enjoyed an impressive display as the Chilean tried to engineer a leveller - but it Enrich who almost got it.
The ace's header deflected off Atletico defender Diego Godin and was heading for the back of the net but was crucially stopped on the line by Jan Oblal. The visitors almost caught Eibar on the counter as the clash reached the final quarter of an hour but stopper Marko Dmitrovic did well to block from Griezmann.
Former Middlesbrough striker Kike Garcia then came agonisingly close to extending the home club's seven-match unbeaten run in injury time as he headed inches wide.
And then in the final seconds Atletico escaped as midfielder Augusto Fernandez handled in the area. The victory ensures Simeone's side retain second spot and are now ten points clear of neighbours Real following their defeat at home to Villareal earlier in the day.
Barcelona can regain their nine point lead at the top with a win on Sunday.
But they face a hard task as the Catalans travel to Real Sociedad.
From The Sun
No comments:
Post a Comment