Atletico Madrid take Athletic Bilbao

Madrid: France international Antoine Griezmann scored a hat-trick as Atletico Madrid produced a stunning second-half display to hammer Athletic Bilbao 4-1 away on Sunday and move to within four points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

 

The Spanish champions looked on course for back-to-back league defeats for the first time since April 2012 when Mikel Rico gave Athletic a deserved half-time lead.

 

But Griezmann levelled straight from the kick-off at the start of the second period and completed his hat-trick after Raul Garcia had put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.

Victory moves Atletico back to within three points of Barcelona, who were 5-0 winners over Cordoba on Saturday, in second.

 

At the new San Mames both sides were missing a number of key players with Aymeric Laporte and Ander Iturraspe banned for the hosts, while Atletico were without the suspended duo of Koke and Mario Mandzukic, as well as Miranda through injury. Bilbao settled much quicker, and went ahead after 17 minutes when Markel Susaeta’s free-kick was nodded into the far corner by the unmarked Rico.

 

Atletico failed to create anything of note in the first half and could have been even further behind at the break had Aritz Aduriz decided to shoot when he was released clear on goal by Susaeta.