Atletico Madrid warmed up for their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in midweek by picking up their sixth straight win in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at Valencia.
Saturday’s victory at the Mestalla, earned with a late own goal from the unfortunate Toni Lato, moved them level on points with leaders Real Sociedad, who have played a game more and will be in action on Sunday against Villarreal.
Diego Simeone’s team were missing Luis Suarez, still waiting to return from a positive test for coronavirus, and Diego Costa, who has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.
They also had Joao Felix resting on the bench but with Thomas Lemar in inspired form they peppered Jaume Domenech’s goal.
The Valencia keeper made several fine saves from the Frenchman and also blocked an effort from Angel Correa to frustrate Atletico.
But the home side were ultimately beaten by an own goal on 79 minutes.
Substitute Yannick Carrasco got to the byline and crossed from the left where Valencia fullback Lato, running onto the ball, turned it into his own net.
“Luck plays a part,” said Carrasco of the breakthrough. “We are just happy to have come here and won.
“The game against Bayern Munich will be another difficult one but we have a big squad and we are ready for Tuesday.”
Domenech added: “We are really disappointed because we put so much into the game and I think we deserved a point from it.”
Messi returns
Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong are all back in the Barca squad for Sunday’s LaLiga clash with Osasuna.
Messi and De Jong were afforded rests in midweek, meaning they missed the 4-0 Champions League win away to Dynamo Kiev.
But both are likely to come straight back into the starting XI at Camp Nou on Sunday, when Messi will be hoping to continue his fine run against Osasuna, having scored 22 goals in 18 LaLiga meetings with the Pamplona side.
Busquets has not played for Barca since the 5-2 win over Real Betis on November 7 as he sustained a knee injury on international duty with Spain.
It is unclear if Busquets is to start, but he has seemingly been deemed fit enough to at least be on the bench.
Sergino Dest has also been included in the selection after reportedly suffering with a muscular problem.