Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Levante on Saturday, moving provisionally to the top of the Spanish La Liga table. The win extended their winning streak in the league to seven consecutive matches. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Giuliano Simeone sealed the victory for Diego Simeone's men. This result put pressure on the reigning champions, Barcelona, who were scheduled to host Alaves later that day.
The match began with Levante threatening through Dani Requena, who forced goalkeeper Jan Oblak into an impressive early save. Atletico thought they had taken the lead when Morten Hjulmand found the net after being set up by Alex Baena, but a Video Assistant Referee review ruled out the effort for offside. Grimaldo eventually broke the deadlock, capitalising on a poorly defended pass from Baena to fire the ball high into the net at the near post.
Levante struggled to contain Atletico after the restart, with Lee Kang-in hitting the crossbar early in the second half as the visitors searched for another goal. Giuliano Simeone eventually doubled Atletico's advantage after being played through by Baena, before calmly turning the opportunity into the team's second goal. Oblak also produced another important save to deny Karl Etta Eyong and prevent Levante from reducing the deficit.
The victory saw Diego Simeone record his 344th La Liga win as Atletico manager, equalling the club record previously set by Luis Aragones. Simeone expressed satisfaction with his team's performance but warned that the season was still far from over. He credited his players and everyone who had worked with him since he took charge of the club in 2011.
Simeone played down the personal significance of the achievement, saying that he didn't feel it much as his own, but rather as a testament to his players' hard work. The Argentine manager emphasised that the team would keep going game by game, focusing on their upcoming matches.
Atletico will turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League, where they are scheduled to host Bayern Munich on Tuesday. They will subsequently welcome Barcelona to the Metropolitano Stadium next weekend in another important La Liga encounter. This match will be crucial in determining the title race, with both teams vying for the top spot.
The victory over Levante gives Atletico a temporary advantage at the summit, with Barcelona having an opportunity to reclaim top spot against Alaves. Third-placed Real Madrid are scheduled to travel to face Racing Santander on Sunday as the Spanish title race continues to gather momentum. The competition is heating up, and teams will need to maintain their form to secure a top position in the league.
Key points
- Atletico Madrid moved to the top of the La Liga table with a 2-0 victory over Levante.
- Diego Simeone equalled the club record for most La Liga wins as Atletico manager.
- Atletico will face Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League and Barcelona in La Liga in the coming weeks.
