ELCHE, Spain: Atletico Madrid stayed accountable for La Liga’s four-way title race by incomes a nerve-shredding 1-0 victory at struggling Elche on Saturday, driving their luck to the acute when the hosts missed a penalty in stoppage time.
Marcos Llorente scored the one objective with a deflected shot within the twenty third minute however gave away the penalty within the ninetieth after a careless handball as Atleti defended a free kick after sitting on their slim lead quite than wanting to put the sport to mattress.
Elche midfielder Fidel Chaves’s spot kick beat goalkeeper Jan Oblak however got here off the put up, offering one other twist in an action-packed recreation during which Atletico had two targets dominated out for offside and a penalty award taken away following a VAR evaluate.
Fidel’s spurned penalty threw Diego Simeone’s aspect a lifeline within the thrilling title race whereas leaving Elche nonetheless 18th and within the relegation zone. They would have moved out of the drop zone if Fidel had scored from the spot.
The win took Atletico to 76 factors with 4 video games left, 5 away from second-placed Real Madrid, who host Osasuna in a while Saturday, and third-placed Barcelona, who go to Valencia on Sunday. Sevilla, on 70 factors, host Athletic Bilbao on Monday.
It was the second time this season Atleti had benefitted from their opponents squandering a late penalty, with Oblak saving from Alaves’ Joselu to safe a 1-0 house win in March.
It was additionally the second stroke of fortune in three days for Atletico, who sank to a chastening 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao final week and seemed set to lose prime spot to Barca, who then fell to a shock 2-1 loss at house to Granada on Thursday.
Atleti go to Barca subsequent Saturday in what might be a pivotal weekend within the title race, with Real internet hosting Sevilla the subsequent day.
‘AN OBLIGATION’
“Winning at present was an obligation and we have been ready to get the job completed,” stated Llorente.
“At this stage of the season everyone has so much at stake, whether you’re fighting relegation, going for Europe or the title. Every team is playing as if their lives depend on it.”
Atletico went on the assault early on towards Elche and may have taken the lead after a slick transfer between Angel Correa and Luis Suarez, who may solely discover the side-netting.
Suarez did handle to put the ball within the web quickly after following a transfer with Llorente however was left pissed off once more when the objective was dominated out after a VAR evaluate for a fractional offside.
The Uruguayan missed the goal early within the second half after which had a second objective chalked off, this time for a transparent offside.
Suarez was changed by midfielder Saul late on as Simeone sought to shield Atletico’s lead.
The transfer nearly backfired when Elche’s Antonio Barragan caught sight of objective from shut vary however volleyed simply over the bar.
Fidel’s spurned penalty was a fair larger let off however, one way or the other, Atletico stay within the field seat within the title race.
Llorente added: “I don’t imagine in luck. But we’ve bought the three factors which supplies us big perception for what’s left to come.”
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