MADRID: Atletico Madrid took provisional top spot in LaLiga with a 1-0 home win over Atletico Bilbao on Saturday thanks to a second-half strike from substitute Julian Alvarez.
Madrid came close to taking the lead in the first half through Alexander Sorloth, who missed a header from Antoine Griezmann’s pass.
Alvarez, who came on for Sorloth just before the hour mark, gave Madrid the winner in the 66th minute with a precise left-foot shot after being played through by Marcos Llorente.
Diego Simeone’s side top LaLiga with 56 points, two clear of Barcelona, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday, and third-placed Real Madrid, who lost 2-1 at Real Betis on Saturday.
Bilbao stay fourth on 48 points.