LaLiga: Atletico Avoid Historic Losing Run With Win Over Athletic Club

Atletico Madrid come from behind to beat Athletic Club at Metropolitano

Atletico Madrid avoided five straight LaLiga defeats for the first time since 1942 by beating Athletic Club 3-2. Sorloth struck twice and Griezmann levelled after Vivian’s opener for Athletic.

Atletico Madrid back to winning ways as Athletic Club’s European hopes take hit...

Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Athletic Club 3-2 at home, securing just a second win in nine across all competitions. Ernesto Valverde’s side suffered another blow to their European hopes, losing for the sixth time in eight LaLiga games.

  

Atleti recalled several more experienced names after their midweek loss to Elche, but they were under pressure within three minutes when Gorka Guruzeta stretched to reach a ball over the top. Jan Oblak had the tight angle covered to stop the shot.

That was the only effort from either side in the opening 15 minutes, which also saw Alex Baena denied a penalty after going down in the box.

Midway through the first half, the visitors made their second shot count. Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta’s corner was met by a bullet header from Dani Vivian.

  

Having become only the fourth side to concede first at home to Athletic this season, Los Colchoneros finally created something with nine minutes left in the half. Giuliano Simeone’s cross from the right was met by a firm Alexander Sorloth header, which the striker planted straight at Unai Simon.

 

Other than that, the hosts continued to look disjointed and were whistled off at half-time by a frustrated home crowd.

Those jeers turned to cheers just four minutes into the second half. A low cross from Baena on the left took a couple of deflections but still found Antoine Griezmann, who poked home the equaliser.

 

Five minutes later, the match was turned on its head. Simeone drove hard through the middle of the park before finding Sorloth, who played an expert one-two with Baena before finishing coolly.

The Norwegian almost had a brace moments later, but this time he fired wide when aiming for the top corner.

Momentum swung back in Lehoiak’s favour around the hour mark. Guruzeta did superbly to bring the ball down at the edge of the box before firing a whisker wide. An Oihan Sancet effort then needed a firm block, before Dani Vivian rose highest at a set-piece again, only for his header to go over.

FT: #AtletiAthletic 3-2

SECOND HALF DOMINANCE!! 💪 #LALIGAEASPORTS | #DESENLACELALIGA pic.twitter.com/yw7LCxKxoQ

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) April 25, 2026

In the final 10 minutes, the Bilbao side looked short of ideas. Long-range strikes from Vivian and Mikel Vesga didn’t come close to troubling Oblak.

 

In stoppage time, Nahuel Molina picked out Sorloth on halfway. The striker raced away unchallenged to seal the points for Atleti, avoiding five consecutive league losses for the first time since 1942.

The Basque club grabbed a consolation in the dying seconds through a Guruzeta header, but they missed the chance for a first league double in 26 years and remain three points shy of the top six.