Antoine Griezmann headed in two more goals to lead Atletico Madrid to a 3-1 win over Levante UD, as the defending champions pulled to within one point of the league leaders on Saturday.
Sevilla remained the only undefeated team at home this season after they edged 10-man RC Celta de Vigo 1-0 despite a lackluster performance, pulling away from both Villarreal and Malaga after they stumbled to end winning streaks.
With winter reinforcement Fernando Torres watching from the stands at the Vicente Calderon in Madrid, Griezmann added to his hat-trick from the last round of matches by scoring in the 18th and 47th minutes.
Photo: AFP
The France international forward first reached Siqueira’s cross at the near post to turn it past goalkeeper Diego Marino and he followed that by nodding in a rebound after Marino stretched to save Mario Mandzukic’s initial try for his eighth league goal of the campaign.
Levante substitute Nabil El Zhar halved the difference in the 62nd minute, but Diego Godin headed in a third to secure the victory eight minutes from time.
Atletico pulled level on points with Barcelona before they were due to visit Real Sociedad yesterday. Leaders Real Madrid are one point ahead of their main title rivals with two games in hand.
Torres could debut on his return to his boyhood club on Wednesday when Atletico host Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Diego Simeone’s side then face a trip to Barcelona’s Camp Nou in La Liga next weekend.
“Fernando is a player from this house that creates a lot of excitement,” Godin said. “He has come to do his part and you can see he wants to do well. This [win] will help us face a hard week of important matches.”
Sevilla defender Nico Pareja curled in a free-kick for his side’s 32nd-minute winner after Celta’s Carles Planes received a direct red card for a low tackle in the 20th.
Undermanned Celta still managed to dictate the action until waning late, but Sevilla held on to rise past Valencia into provisional fourth place and the last UEFA Champions League spot.
“We can’t be satisfied with the result,” Sevilla manager Unai Emery said. “We have to be self-critical. With an extra player, we should have had an easier time.”
Since winning at Barcelona on Nov. 1, Celta have not scored a single goal and their winless streak has reached eight matches as they remained in eighth place.
Bottom side Elche fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with visitors Villarreal, while UD Almeria striker Tomer Hemed scored twice to help earn a 2-1 win at Malaga to deal the hosts their first loss in four league matches.
Villarreal seemed set to extend their five-match winning run in La Liga after their fast-paced attack produced goals from strikers Luciano Vietto in the 12th minute and Ikechuwku Uche in the 18th, but Elche immediately responded with a flurry of chances before Jonathas beat goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo with a powerful volley in the 26th minute.
Victor Rodriguez then scored off the post in the 35th minute to complete the comeback.
Villarreal were left in sixth place, behind Valencia in fifth place on goal-difference.
Hemed opened for Almeria in the 39th minute when he and two teammates beat Malaga’s defenders to a lobbed free-kick. Samuel Garcia equalized in the 73rd minute, only for Hemed to convert a penalty three minutes later after he was fouled by Miguel Torres.
Almeria’s second consecutive win under new coach Juan Ignacio Martinez lifted them three points above the relegation zone.
Also on Saturday, RC Deportivo de La Coruna beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0.
Bilbao remained winless in their past four matches.
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