Atletico Madrid bounced back from a recent bad form with a tough 2-0 win at Villarreal on Sunday that allowed La Liga pacemakers to extend the lead to five points.
A goal from Alfonso Pedraza and a powerful strike by Joao Felix gave Atletico a valuable victory after a wobble that allowed Barcelona and Real Madrid to gain ground in the title race.
Diego Simeone’s side had come into the game off the back of last year’s 16 Champions League for Chelsea and a league run in which they had picked up just five points from the previous four games.
But despite Villarreal coming close several times Atletico held on for a win that will ensure they keep Barca in second place at bay and essentially widen the gap between them and rivals Real Madrid to six points ahead of next week’s local derby.
Madrid can bounce back within three points of Atletico when they host Real Sociedad from Europe on Monday night.
“We suffered, and even after the second goal they had good chances. But we will come home with a significant impact at this stage of the season,” Simeone said.
Atletico opened the scoring thanks to Pedraza’s strange goal halfway through the first half, which came after a lengthy VAR check to see if Stefan Savic, who was initially credited with the goal, had strayed for cross of Thomas Lemar.
Savic’s header was saved by Sergio Asenjo just to kick the ball off Pedraza and into the net when the 24-year-old defender fell over.
Gerard Moreno should have pulled the guest level when he met Daniel Parejo’s cross but was unable to gather a definite finish and Savic got back easily to clear the ball off the line.
– ‘I like rebel players’ –
Suarez could have doubled Atleti’s lead eight minutes after the break when he called on defensive paws to drop a powerful bullet, just to pull Asenjo off with a superb response only to deny the Uruguayan.
But Joao Felix gave up the much-needed two-goal lead in the 69th minute, moving quickly on a poor fumble by Pau Torres to bring home the second from just outside the penalty area.
Felix appeared to be leading an angry look at Simeone after scoring, according to a statement motivated by a lack of game time.
“I like rebel players, the ones who have pride. The goal brought something out there,” Simeone said.
“He needed it, and the team needed that goal.”
The guests responded, with Carlos Bacca somehow firing when Moreno put a simple finish on Colombia with 12 minutes left.
And teenage substitute Alex Baena was unlucky to end the game without his first La Liga goal, trimming the post in the 82nd minute and then pushing Jan’s brilliant save form. Oblak with a tight volley.
But they couldn’t get back and sit in seventh place with a run of seven games without a win.
Real Betis moved earlier above Villarreal as they maintained their bid for European football next season thanks to a late Juanmi strike that won them a 1-0 win in the clash with Cadiz.
Spaniard Juanmi shook home a close header with six minutes left to push Betis past the home side and place them sixth.
Betis is just two points behind Sociedad in the Europa League automatic qualification spot.
Real Valladolid climbed out of the relegation arena despite extending their unbeaten league run to eight in a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo.
Valladolid were denied the first league title since Jan. 2 by stoppage-time boss Jeison Murillo.
In an intense relegation spell Valladolid is at 22 points with Alaves and Eibar, Elche is 19th on 21 points and Huesca is 20 at the bottom of the rock.