Real Madrid transfer nearer to prime spot as Atletico lose at dwelling to Levante

After Atlético Madrid stumbled in La Liga, Real Madrid didn’t miss its likelihood to maneuver nearer to the highest.
Madrid received 1-0 at Valladolid on Saturday for its fourth consecutive win, whereas Atlético misplaced factors for the second straight match in a 2-0 dwelling loss in opposition to Levante that ended its 11-game unbeaten streak within the league.

Two weeks forward of the Madrid derby, @realmadriden shut the hole on the prime to three factors… 👀#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/cGwWBDIXiQ
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) February 20, 2021
The outcomes left second-place Madrid inside three factors of Atlético, which stays with a sport in hand however is beginning to really feel the warmth. Third-place Barcelona can transfer inside six factors of Atlético if it beats struggling Cádiz at dwelling on Sunday.
Casemiro scored with a Sixty fifth-minute header off a cross by Toni Kroos to provide Madrid the win two rounds earlier than it visits Atlético on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Madrid has been capable of inch nearer to the highest regardless of enjoying with out a number of key gamers not too long ago due to accidents, together with Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Eden Hazard.
None of them may play in Valladolid as Madrid withstood a number of threats however was largely in management in opposition to the hosts, that are winless in seven matches in all competitions and sit second-to-last within the 20-team standings.
ATLÉTICO STALLS
José Luis Morales scored within the thirtieth minute and Jorge de Frutos added one other aim in stoppage time on the Metropolitano, handing Atlético its first league loss since December — and first at dwelling in additional than a yr.
Diego Simeone’s group has received solely certainly one of its final 4 league matches.
“I’m not looking for excuses, we need to find solutions,” Simeone mentioned. “It’s natural that we will find difficulties along our path. There will be challenges.”
It was the second consecutive league match between Atlético and Levante. They drew 1-1 on Wednesday in a sport postponed from the second spherical due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Atlético had received 9 of its final 11 league matches and hadn’t misplaced since a 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid in December. It had drawn two of its final three video games, with setbacks in opposition to Levante and Celta Vigo. Atlético was eradicated by third-division membership Cornellà within the second spherical of the Copa del Rey in January.

🐸🏟️ @LevanteUDen are the primary visiting group to win on the Wanda Metropolitano since December 2019!#AtletiLevante pic.twitter.com/aJlKvENCmA
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) February 20, 2021
Atlético was unbeaten at dwelling within the league in 22 matches, since a 1-0 loss to Barcelona in December 2019. It went 23 matches unbeaten at dwelling between 2013 and 2014, when it final received the league.
Levante, which not too long ago made it to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey for the primary time in 86 years, hadn’t received in 14 video games at Atlético within the league, with 13 losses and one draw. It had additionally received at Real Madrid 4 rounds in the past after going winless in its final eight away matches. Levante hadn’t received two away matches in a row within the league since 2018.
It moved to eighth with Saturday’s win, its first in 4 matches in all competitions.
Atlético has a troublesome schedule forward, internet hosting Chelsea within the spherical of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday and enjoying Villarreal and Real Madrid in its subsequent two Spanish league matches.
OTHER RESULTS
Manu Vallejo and Kevin Gameiro scored a aim every in second-half stoppage time as Valencia beat Celta Vigo 2-0 at dwelling.
Elche beat visiting Eibar 1-0 with a first-half aim by Dani Calvo in a match between relegation-threatened groups.