First Division - Day 18

Atlético Madrid 1 - Levante 0

Atlético: Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godín, Filipe Luis; Saúl Ñíguez, Gabi, Koke (Carrasco 62‘); Correa (Vietto 56‘), Jackson Martínez (Thomas 73‘), Griezmann. 4-3-3.
Levante: Diego Mariño; Pedro López, Feddal, Trujillo, Toño; José Mari (Camarasa 65’, Roger 83’), Verza, Jefferson Lerma; Morales, Ghilas, Xumetra (Rubén García 75’). 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 81. Thomas. Picked up Gabi pass and ran on to force shot past Mariño.

Yellow cards: Rubén García 61’, Xumetra 61’, Feddal 93’, Verza 94’.

A change of leader to start off the new year, Atlético Madrid moving to the top of the table after a 1-0 victory over Levante on Saturday evening. Simeone’s side were on top for most of the match, Jackson Martínez bringing an early save out of Diego Mariño, and Savic heading a corner against the crossbar soon afterwards. Verza did fire a shot just wide before the break, but Martínez went close with a header, and Koke rattled the bar again with a volley from the edge of the area. A few minutes later a Vietto cross also bounced off the bar, but it was not until ten minutes from the end that substitute Thomas battled through a packed defence to force home the winner, Mariño getting a hand to his shot but unable to prevent the ball from rolling into the net. A brave performance from the visitors, but the defeat leaves them still three points adrift at the foot of the table.