Atlético Madrid Tops La Liga After Narrow Win Over Athletic Bilbao
A decisive goal by Julian Alvarez and Real Madrid's loss to Betis propel Atlético to the top spot, with Barcelona's Sunday match set to shape the standings further.
- Atlético Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the 26th round of La Liga, with Julian Alvarez scoring the decisive goal in the 66th minute.
- Real Madrid's earlier 2-1 loss to Real Betis allowed Atlético to overtake them in the standings, moving to 56 points, two ahead of both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
- Barcelona, currently tied with Real Madrid on points but ahead on goal difference, will play Real Sociedad on Sunday, a match that could shift the standings again.
- Julian Alvarez's goal marked his 21st of the season across all competitions, highlighting his critical contribution to Atlético's campaign.
- The win sets the stage for a high-stakes Champions League derby between Atlético and Real Madrid in three days, adding further intensity to the rivalry.
Ouest-France 