Athletic Bilbao inflicted their fourth defeat of the season on Atlético Madrid on Saturday at home, winning 2-0 and moving closer to the podium. Three days after their 2-0 victory against Lazio, synonymous with first place in the Champions League, the Colchoneros were no match for the Basques.
The Leones are carrying out an excellent operation: if they remain in fifth place, they come back to two points from their opponents of the day, still third while awaiting the trip of Barcelona, fourth, to Valencia on Saturday evening.
Two weeks after their 1-0 defeat against Barça, the Madrilenians lost again and left the possibility for Real Madrid, who host Villarreal on Sunday, and the leader Girona, who faces Alavés on Monday, to fly a little further in top of the ranking. Striker Gorka Guruzeta lit the first fuse after the break, to give his team the advantage (51st), before Nico Williams doubled the lead with a superb curling shot into the top corner.
The Basques, who celebrated the club's 125th anniversary in a warm atmosphere, then held on despite Atlético's attempts, thanks in particular to some fine saves from goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Antoine Griezmann, flamboyant since the start of the season, has remained silent and remains for the moment two points behind the record number of goals scored by Luis Aragones (173) in the Red and White jersey.