LUIS SUAREZ’S PENALTY sent Atletico Madrid six points clear at the top of La Liga as the leaders survived a scare to beat a resurgent Athletic Bilbao 2-1.
Atletico conceded late to draw with Real Madrid on Sunday, a result that kept their opponents in the title race and allowed Barcelona to move just three points behind.
But Diego Simeone’s side made full use of their last game in hand, with Marcos Llorente’s header and a Suarez spot-kick overturning Iker Muniain’s opener for Bilbao, who had dominated the first half.
Suarez and Llorente have been the driving forces behind Atletico’s charge this term and so it proved again at the Wanda Metropolitano, with Suarez scoring his 18th league goal of the season, after Llorente had nodded in his ninth.
Victory also puts Atleti eight points clear of Real Madrid and while Atletico still have to play at Barcelona in May, a Clasico next month at the Santiago Bernabeu complicates matters further for their chasing rivals.
By conceding to Karim Benzema in the 88th minute on Sunday, Atletico squandered the chance to land a heavy blow on Real Madrid and it would have been easy to let the disappointment linger.
Instead, they rallied to defeat one of the form sides in the league and take another step closer to lifting their first La Liga title since 2014.
Bilbao have been transformed since the appointment of Marcelino Garcia Toral, who in two months has seen them win the Spanish Super Cup, reach the final of the Copa del Rey and climb back into contention for European qualification in La Liga.
His team were stronger and sharper in the first half, pushing Atletico to retreat further and further towards their own goal.
They took a deserved lead when Oscar de Marcos’ superb pass sent Inaki Williams in behind and his cutback found the arriving Muniain, whose scuffed finish squirmed its way in.
Atletico struggled for chances but, against the run of play, found a lifeline on the stroke of half-time with a goal very similar to Bilbao’s.
This time Thomas Lemar was threaded through and his cross was met by the head of Llorente.
⏱ 51' | #AtletiAthletic 2⃣-1⃣
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) March 10, 2021
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It was a crucial goal, changing the complexion of the second half, with Atletico beginning where they left off.
Llorente found Suarez, who wriggled past Unai Nunez and tumbled over his dangling leg. Suarez drove the penalty into the corner.
Atletico could have made it more comfortable but Yannick Carrasco failed to finish a Suarez cross while Llorente was unable to make the most of openings down the right.
A nervy finish gave Bilbao a chance but they let it slip through their fingers, Unai glancing a header into the grateful hands of Jan Oblak.
Come on you boys in blue!
Up da dubs.
Jesus, looks like just saying you support the Dubs is enough to get you red thumbed. Anyway, everyone hates us but we don’t care. COYBIB!!
CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
Come on Kerry. Anyone But Dublin
Fantastic display from the Dubs,welcome home Sam!
Come on the dubs!!!
Come on you boys, come on you boys in blue!!!
Who are the 4 muppets on RTE 2 arguing over nothing?
I know!! Everybody wants to see the best play in a final and a Kerry v Dublin is like The Spanish El Clasico!!!
Did they lube the pitch up with baby oil before this match? Shlippin’ and shlidin’ all over the place
Come on Dublin.
Tis a slipping and sliding match.
When I seen the photograph of the woman and baby accompanying this article I thought it was going to be another migrant/refugee story!
It’s a refugee free day!! Beer and maybe a leg over later if Dublin win!!
I’m off the drink but I’ll take you up on the offer of the leg over.
Might be some consolation after the hiding Tipperary got in the minor game
worst allireland final in my living memory. Very very poor.
Puke.
The boys on RTE just after mentioning how both teams have played limited division 1 opposition,to put that into perspective Donegal who were knocked out of the championship in the Q/F have played more Div 1 teams than both Kerry and Dublin combined.
They won’t get any all-stars either despite the lop-sided draw they came through. Perhaps Durcan – had a terrific year.
It’s a very unfair system. Ulster teams get a raw deal there’s no disputing that
Best team won in the end.
Dublin have the better squad, Kerry have the better management. Kerry by 2.
Jack Kerry are not that strong !!!
…Stick to the day job Michael
Na I work nights
Looking like the Dubs having the better on the sideline as well so far, cooper bring dragged up and down the field and o Sullivan getting in on the scoring Gooch too far out from the goals
Wouldn’t completely agree, Kerry’s shooting has been absolutely woeful. When playing Dublin you have to take your chances. 8 wides(?) in 35 minutes is inexcusable in an AIF,
Congrats Dublin, the better side on the day
They should get rid of them clowns up in the studio and stick O’se and Whelao up there.
Come on utd
Carney already has O’Donoghue as his man of the match..
Never understood why they call it football. It should be called handball.
Because the foot kicks the ball? Derp!
Because it’s played on foot! The same reason Association Football is called football, American football is called football and rugby is called rugby football. The more you know *spreads hands in star motion*
Good game so far considering the conditions.
A.B.D
Deserved victory for Dublin, adapted to the conditions better and were unquestionably the better team on the day..faif pay to them..poor quality final..poor championsip.. (from the perspective of a neutral)
Well done best team won in the end to be honest it should hav been a bigger margin and they really should have three in a row by now by far the best team over the last three to four years.
Well done boys!! Up the Dubs!!
Martin carney is getting worried that Dublin might actually win
Dublin being a bit wasteful early on when they’re in shooting distance of a goal
Looks like donaghy is togged to start?????. Let the games begin
Get Paul Flynn off the pitch and this game would be put to bed.
I must have been at a different match . Paul Flynn was my man of the match