First Division - Day 38

Atlético Madrid 3 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Atlético: Oblak; Thomas, Savic, Saúl Ñíguez, Lucas Hernández; Koke, Tiago (Correa 88’), Gabi, Carrasco (Gaitán 70’); Griezmann, Fernando Torres (Gameiro 64’). 4-4-2.
Athletic: Kepa; De Marcos, Yeray, Laporte, Balenziaga; San José, Iturraspe (Williams 46’); Raúl García (Susaeta 57’), Beñat (Mikel Rico 74’), Muniain; Aduríz. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Fernando Torres. Fired shot past Kepa following Griezmann headed pass.
2-0. 11. Fernando Torres. Hooked shot over keeper after Koke headed ball across.
2-1. 71. Williams. Shot from edge of area which deflected off Savic past Oblak.
3-1. 89. Correa. Turned ball back in to net after Griezmann shot hit near post.

Yellow cards: Thomas 38’, Gabi 45’.

Athletic Bilbao drop to seventh after a 3-1 defeat at third placed Atlético coupled with Real Sociedad’s draw at Celta, and they have to wait for the result of next weekend’s cup final to see whether they get the third Europa League place or not. It was Atleti’s last match in the Calderón stadium before moving to a new home, and a big crowd turned up to see Fernando Torres score twice in the first ten minutes, the opener from Griezmann’s headed pass, and the second with a hooked shot over Kepa. Oblak had to save from Laporte after the interval, but Torres could have had his hat-trick had Griezmann not decided to intervene as the ball span out of Kepa’s grip back towards the goal-line, the French striker tapping the ball in only to be ruled out for offside! With twenty minutes to go Williams gave Valverde’s side hope of a turn-around with a shot which went in off Savic, but with two minutes left on the clock Correa put the game beyond their reach after a shot from Griezmann came to him off the post. They now need Alavés to lose to Barcelona next Saturday to qualify for Europe, albeit that they would have to enter at the early stages of the competition if that happens.