Simeone seals seventh straight win for Atletico
Atletico Madrid's superb run of form in LaLiga continued on Sunday (AEDT) as goals in either half from Alejandro Grimaldo and Giuliano Simeone earned a 2-0 win away to Levante.
Diego Simeone's side has now put together a run of seven consecutive league wins, moving it, at least temporarily, top of the table ahead of Barcelona's clash with Alaves.
But it was Levante that started the brighter of the two sides at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, with Dani Requena forcing Jan Oblak into a sprawling stop in the 11th minute.
Morten Hjulmand thought he had given Atletico a 16th-minute lead when he collected Alex Baena's clever pass inside the penalty area before finishing past Mathew Ryan, but the goal was ruled out after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, after the Denmark midfielder had strayed into an offside position.
However, the visitors' pressure paid off nine minutes before the break, when Jon Ander Olasagasti got himself in all sorts of trouble when trying to clear Baena's pass, allowing Grimaldo to steal in and rifle home at Ryan's near post.
Atletico had another goal chalked off in the 54th minute for offside, with David Hancko just beyond the Levante defence after Julian Alvarez's free-kick was parried into his path.
But it was not to be denied a second goal, with Simeone rounding off a brilliant team move that began deep in Levante's half. The Argentinean slotted past Ryan after holding off Nacho Perez's challenge.
Levante piled on the pressure in its quest to halve the deficit, but a tame header late on from Roger Brugue was its best chance as Atletico comfortably held on.
