Atletico Madrid's top-four hopes suffered another blow as they crashed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Athletic Bilbao.
2021/2022 La Liga
2-0
Match Report
Athletic Club deservedly took the lead after just eight minutes even if the opener came in fortuitous circumstances, Inaki Williams' shot taking a wicked deflection off Mario Hermoso leaving Jan Oblak with no chance.
The visitors looked disjointed in the early stages and almost fell further behind, with Inaki Williams agonisingly close to getting on the scoresheet when his wicked cross cannoned off the post.
Diego Simeone changed the system in response to his side's desperately poor start, moving to a back four, as Atleti grew into the contest. Antoine Griezmann registered their first shot on target in the 43rd-minute - a tame header - but Yannick Carrasco went close following a lung-busting run.
After the restart, Griezmann's search for a first league goal since November was almost ended with a terrific free-kick that rattled the crossbar.
But Atleti soon had a mountain to climb when Renan Lodi's lax pass was intercepted by Iker Muniain, who drew the foul from Hector Herrera and Inaki Williams coolly dispatched a Panenka penalty past Oblak.
Desperately chasing the game, Atleti threw players forward in search of an unlikely comeback, but it was the home side that looked most likely to grabbing the third goal on the counter-attack.
The result leaves Atletico Madrid four points above fifth-placed Real Betis having played a game more, while eighth-placed Bilbao moved to within a point of a Europa Conference League spot.
Line-ups
Athletic Club XI: R.García, Muniain, De Marcos, Berchiche, I. Martinez, D.García, Y.Álvarez, I.Williams, Vesga, Unai Simón, Nico Williams
Subs: Balenziaga, Capa, Lekue, Berenguer, Núñez, Jokin Ezkieta, Dani Vivian, Álex Petxa, Oier Zarraga, Unai Vencedor, Nico Serrano
Atletico XI: Suarez, Herrera, Oblak, Griezmann, Kondogbia, Carrasco, Gimenez, Reinildo, Hermoso, Llorente, Lodi
Subs: Wass, Vrsaljko, B. Lecomte, Koke, Felipe, De Paul, Correa, Matheus Cunha, Javi Serrano, G. Simeone