Struggling Villarreal, who sacked manager Jose Rojo ‘Pacheta’ on Friday, grabbed an early lead when Gerard Moreno netted a first-time strike on the rebound in the 20th minute.

But the hosts, the only team in LaLiga to have won all of their home games this season, equalised in added time before the break with a close-range strike by defender Axel Witsel from a cross by Griezmann.

Atletico got back on top in the second half but did not find the net again until the 80th minute, when Griezmann fired home from close range from a Pablo Barrios cross.

Five minutes later, substitute Lino scored with a fine individual effort, securing the points with a tidy finish from inside the box after bursting through the left channel.

With a game in hand, Atletico are fourth in the LaLiga standings on 28 points, two behind Barcelona in third. Real Madrid are second on 32 points, behind surprise leaders Girona on 34 points.