Atletico Top of LaLiga After Levante Win
Atletico Madrid beat Levante 2-0 on Saturday to move provisionally top of LaLiga. Alejandro Grimaldo scored in the 36th minute and Giuliano Simeone added the second in the 62nd minute at the Ciutat de Valencia, as Diego Simeone’s side recorded a seventh consecutive league win.
The result took Atletico a point clear of Barcelona, who were due to host Alaves later on Saturday. Barcelona had suffered their first league defeat of the season against Real Madrid last weekend, which opened the door for Atletico to climb above the reigning champions.
Atletico top of LaLiga: how the win unfolded
There was a minute’s silence before kick-off in memory of the 69 victims of the train crash in the province of Toledo that rocked Spain this week. Levante started brightly, and Dani Requena forced Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak into an impressive early save.
Atletico thought they had taken the lead when Alex Baena slipped in Morten Hjulmand, but a VAR review showed the Dane was offside. Baena, the visitors’ main creative outlet, was involved again in the opener. His pass was poorly defended by Levante, the ball bobbled through to Grimaldo, and the left back lashed it high into the net at the near post in the 36th minute.
Lee Kang-in hit the crossbar early in the second half as Atletico looked to put the game to bed. The second goal arrived in the 62nd minute, when Baena played in Giuliano Simeone and the coach’s son prodded home. Oblak then saved superbly from Karl Etta Eyong to stop Levante fighting their way back into the match.
A record win for Simeone
The victory was Diego Simeone’s 344th LaLiga win as Atletico coach, which matched the club record set by Luis Aragones. Simeone has coached Atletico since 2011, and he played down the personal side of the record after the match.
“I don’t feel it much as mine, but it belongs to my players, everyone who has been with me for so many years,” Simeone said. He had earlier told Movistar that he was very happy with his team’s work, while adding that the side was very far from the end of the season and would keep going game by game.
That attitude fits the shape of this Atletico run. Seven straight league wins have been built on a settled defence, with Oblak in strong form, and on Baena’s creativity in attack. Grimaldo’s goal from left back and Giuliano Simeone’s finish from a Baena pass both showed how many routes to goal this side now has.
The title race context adds weight to the win. Barcelona’s defeat by Real Madrid last weekend ended their perfect start and left them open to being caught. Atletico took that chance in Valencia, even if their stay at the top depends on Barcelona’s result against Alaves later on Saturday.
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What happens next
Atletico host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday before welcoming Barcelona to the Metropolitano stadium next weekend in LaLiga. That run of fixtures will test whether this seven-match winning streak can carry into the biggest games of the season. Real Madrid, third in the table, visit Racing Santander on Sunday under Jose Mourinho.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score between Levante and Atletico Madrid?
Atletico Madrid beat Levante 2-0 at the Ciutat de Valencia, with goals from Alejandro Grimaldo in the 36th minute and Giuliano Simeone in the 62nd minute.
Why did Atletico move top of LaLiga?
Atletico moved a point clear of Barcelona after a seventh straight league win, with Barcelona due to host Alaves later on Saturday after losing to Real Madrid last weekend.
What record did Diego Simeone match against Levante?
The win was Simeone’s 344th LaLiga victory as Atletico coach, matching the club record set by Luis Aragones.
Who do Atletico play next?
Atletico host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday, then welcome Barcelona to the Metropolitano stadium next weekend in LaLiga.
