Atletico buries Real Madrid

Atletico buries Real Madrid

February 28, 2016
Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring a goal against Real Madrid during their Spanish La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid Saturday. — AP
Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring a goal against Real Madrid during their Spanish La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid Saturday. — AP

MADRID — Antoine Griezmann scored a goal early in the second half to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win over Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Saturday, keeping Atletico's title hopes alive and virtually ending the rival's chances in the Spanish league.

The French forward scored with a left-footer in the 53rd minute after a cross by Brazilian left back Filipe Luis, helping visiting Atletico pull within five points of leader Barcelona, which hosts Sevilla Sunday. Real Madrid could drop 12 points behind Barcelona if the Catalan club wins Sunday.

It was Real Madrid's first defeat at home since a humiliating 4-0 loss to Barcelona in November. The team had won seven straight at Bernabeu.
Fans loudly jeered Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, calling for his resignation.

It's the third season in a row that Atletico beat Real Madrid at Bernabeu in the Spanish league.

Griezmann got the winner in a breakaway that started near midfield. He carried the ball to the top of the area, fed Luis on the left flank and the Brazilian passed it right back for Griezmann's shot from near the penalty spot.

Atletico had not scored a goal in its last two games. It hasn't conceded in four straight matches.

Madrid entered the match with 71 goals scored, four better than second-place Barcelona, while Diego Simeone's Atletico came in having conceded only 11 goals in 25 matches, seven goals less than fourth-place Villarreal.
The first Madrid derby this season ended in a 1-1 draw at Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium.
Bayern wins in Wolfsburg

Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski scored in the second half to give Bundesliga front-runner Bayern Munich a 2-0 win in Wolfsburg Saturday.
The defending champion stayed on course for an unprecedented fourth straight title and provisionally increased its lead over Borussia Dortmund to 11 points. Dortmund hosts Hoffenheim Sunday.

In other matches, Claudio Pizarro scored a late goal to salvage a 2-2 draw for Werder Bremen against Darmstadt, bottom-place Hannover ended a five-match losing streak under new coach Thomas Schaaf with a 2-1 win in Stuttgart and Hamburger SV settled for a 1-1 draw at home against Ingolstadt.

Lewandowski raised his league-high tally to 23 goals to secure Bayern's win in Wolfsburg. Pep Guardiola's team did just enough to win against last season's runner-up.


February 28, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS