Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Atletico Madrid: Angel Correa and Yannick Carrasco strikes move visitors up to second in La Liga behind leaders Barcelona

  • Angel Correa and Yannick Carrasco struck in Atletico's win over Athletic Bilbao
  • Correa opened the scoring after latching on to Koke's 55th-minute cross
  • Carrasco then added to the lead with a low shot into the corner 18 minutes later
  • Raul Garcia added a consolation for he hosts in injury time at San Mames Barria 

Atletico Madrid moved closer to the Spanish league lead by defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Wednesday.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak stopped Aritz Aduriz's penalty kick before half time and Angel Correa and Yannick Carrasco scored second-half goals to leave the Madrid side within four points of leader Barcelona.

Defending champions Real Madrid, seven points off the lead, lost to Real Betis.

Yannick Carrasco (pictured) and Angel Correa scored in Atletico's 2-1 win over Athletic Bilcao

Yannick Carrasco (pictured) and Angel Correa scored in Atletico's 2-1 win over Athletic Bilcao

Correa (L) opened the scoring after latching on to Koke's 55th-minute cross for a 1-0 lead

Correa (L) opened the scoring after latching on to Koke's 55th-minute cross for a 1-0 lead

Carrasco then added to the lead with a low shot into the corner 18 minutes later

Carrasco then added to the lead with a low shot into the corner 18 minutes later

Antoine Griezmann, who played a big part in both goals, celebrates with Carrasco after the win

Antoine Griezmann, who played a big part in both goals, celebrates with Carrasco after the win

MATCH FACTS

ATHLETIC BILBAO: Kepa, Balenziaga, Laporte, Lekue, Unai Nunez, García, Susaeta (Inaki Williams 56'), San Jose, Iturraspe (Benat 56'), Aduriz (Cordoba 79'), Muniain

SUBS NOT USED: Boveda, Iago Herrerin, Etxeita, Mikel Vesga

Goal: Garcia 90+2

ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak, Gimenez, Savic, Godin, Luis (Gomes 79'), Koke, Thomas, Niguez, Gaitan (Carrasco 60'), Correa (Fernandez 72'), Griezmann

SUBS NOT USED: Moya, Torres, Ferreira, Fernandez, Juanfran, Gameiro

Booking: Luis, Thomas

Goals: Correa 55', Carrasco 73' 

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It was the second consecutive win for Atletico, which was coming off a 1-0 victory against last-place Malaga in the inaugural match at its Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday. Diego Simeone's team remains unbeaten after five rounds.


'To win in this stadium you need to play a great match and I think we did that,' Simeone said. 'We controlled the game and were very effective. It's a very important triumph for us.'

Oblak used his left hand to stop a powerful shot by Aduriz after a mistake by Atletico left back Filipe Luis led to the penalty at Athletic's San Mames Stadium.

Correa opened the scoring from inside the area after a cross by Koke in the 55th minute, and Carrasco added to the lead with a low shot into the far corner after a well-placed pass by Antoine Griezmann in the 73rd. Griezmann had also helped set up the first goal with a pass to Koke.

'It was Griezmann's best match so far this season,' Simeone said.

Raul Garcia netted an injury time goal for Athletic, which has now lost two in a row after an unbeaten start.

Barcelona routed Eibar 6-1 on Tuesday with four goals by Lionel Messi to keep its perfect record after five matches.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak stopped Aritz Aduriz's crucial penalty kick before half time

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak stopped Aritz Aduriz's crucial penalty kick before half time

Raul Garcia added a consolation for the hosts when he nudged home during injury time

Raul Garcia added a consolation for the hosts when he nudged home during injury time

 

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