Griezmann seals win as Atleti keeps heat on Madrid
Diego Simeone celebrated his 500th LaLiga match in charge of Atletico Madrid with a 2-0 victory over Real Mallorca.
Samuel Lino and Antoine Griezmann were on target as Los Rojiblancos moved to within a point of LaLiga leader Real Madrid before its upset 1-0 defeat to Espanyol later in the day.
Atletico broke the deadlock in the 26th minute as Lino beat Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif with a low drive.
Simeone's side had failed to win its past two league games, and it was not until deep into second-half stoppage-time that it secured the points.
It did so in sublime fashion, too, as Griezmann lobbed Greif from distance to ensure Atleti got back to winning ways ahead of its huge clash with Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu next weekend.
Simeone took time to reflect happily on his 500 LaLiga games in charge of Atletico.
"I am very happy with this journey, without a doubt," he said.
"Many people in the coaching staff who are no longer here helped us get to this point, many footballers who shared an idea and represented it on the pitch, leaders who are no longer here and accompanied us. It makes me very happy.
"I'll make a special section for my family. Without their support and company, this would be impossible. It has been many years giving all the love and responsibility to a club that I love very much, but we take a lot of time away from the family."
Simeone is the eighth coach to oversee 500 games in LaLiga history, and the first to do so with a single club.
Atletico continued its impressive defensive record, having conceded a league-low 14 goals this season and keeping clean sheets in half of its 22 LaLiga games.
"The teams that end up fighting for important things are the ones that concede the fewest goals," Simeone said.
"Our goal is to maintain this solidity and continue to grow in the offensive part. The team competes very well.
"We needed this victory, we were coming off a bad moment, and we had to win.
"These are games in which, with a 1-0 [lead], any situation can lead to a draw. Luckily, it ended with a brilliant move, a delight from Antoine to secure the victory."
Griezmann's goal marked his first strike in LaLiga in close to two months.
"It is impossible not to continue saying more positive things about Griezmann," Simeone added.
"He continues to age, working in the same way he did before and is forceful in the way he plays.
"We have to help him so that he does not stray from this line. People have become accustomed to having him and always want to see his best version. We need the best Antoine to compete for the highest goals."
