Spanish La Liga
Ath BilbaoAthletic Bilbao1Atl MadridAtlético Madrid4

Athletic Bilbao 1-4 Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is the first French player to score a hat-trick in La Liga since Thierry Henry against Valencia in 2008

Spanish champions Atletico Madrid ended a remarkable 2014 on a high as France forward Antoine Griezmann scored his first La Liga hat-trick in victory at Athletic Bilbao.

Atletico, who ended Barcelona and Real Madrid's duopoly to win last season's La Liga title for the first time since 1996, trailed to Mikel Rico's thumping header from a left-wing corner.

Atletico, last season's Champions League runners-up, showed little attacking threat in a first half in which Rico's goal was the only effort on target.

The Atletico fightback began just 29 seconds into the second half when Griezmann headed in Juanfran's cross.

They led when Raul Garcia coolly converted a controversial penalty, after former Chelsea midfielder Tiago tumbled despite there appearing to be little contact from Mikel San Jose.

Griezmann struck the third with a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area, before tapping in while stood in an offside position.

Victory lifted Diego Simeone's side to within four points of leaders Real Madrid, who are one point ahead of Barcelona with a game in hand over both sides.

The Spanish top flight now enters its winter break, with clubs returning to action on 3 January.

Line-ups

Ath Bilbao

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Iraizoz
  • 10De Marcos
  • 18Gurpegi
  • 16Etxeita
  • 24BalenziagaSubstituted forGómezat 79'minutes
  • 6San JoséBooked at 52mins
  • 17Rico Moreno
  • 14SusaetaSubstituted forAketxeat 84'minutes
  • 29López CabreraSubstituted forFernández Hierroat 68'minutes
  • 19MuniainBooked at 68mins
  • 20AdurizBooked at 25mins

Substitutes

  • 5Morán
  • 7Etxebarria Urkiaga
  • 11Gómez
  • 12Bustinza Martínez
  • 13Herrerín Buisán
  • 22Fernández Hierro
  • 23Aketxe

Atl Madrid

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1Moyá Rumbo
  • 20Torres Belén
  • 24Giménez de VargasBooked at 74mins
  • 2Godín
  • 3SiqueiraSubstituted forHernándezat 88'minutes
  • 5Cardoso Mendes
  • 8Garcia Escudero
  • 14Fernández ArenasBooked at 89mins
  • 17SaúlSubstituted forRodríguezat 80'minutes
  • 10TuranBooked at 75minsSubstituted forGámezat 84'minutes
  • 7GriezmannBooked at 28mins

Substitutes

  • 4Suárez
  • 11Jiménez
  • 13Oblak
  • 18Gámez
  • 21Rodríguez
  • 28Hernández
  • 36Keita
Referee:
Alejandro José Hernández Hernández
Attendance:
46,500

Match Stats

Home TeamAth BilbaoAway TeamAtl Madrid
Possession
Home57%
Away43%
Shots
Home4
Away5
Shots on Target
Home2
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away1
Fouls
Home12
Away14

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Athletic Club 1, Atlético de Madrid 4.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Athletic Club 1, Atlético de Madrid 4.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Óscar De Marcos (Athletic Club).

  4. Post update

    Tiago (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  6. Post update

    Delay in match Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid) because of an injury.

  7. Booking

    Gabi (Atlético de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Post update

    Xabier Etxeita (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Post update

    Dangerous play by Gabi (Atlético de Madrid).

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Atlético de Madrid. Lucas Hernández replaces Guillherme Siqueira because of an injury.

  11. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  12. Post update

    Delay in match Guillherme Siqueira (Atlético de Madrid) because of an injury.

  13. Post update

    Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Gabi tries a through ball, but Antoine Griezmann is caught offside.

  14. Post update

    Carlos Gurpegi (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Cristian Rodríguez (Atlético de Madrid).

  16. Post update

    Foul by Óscar De Marcos (Athletic Club).

  17. Post update

    Guillherme Siqueira (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Guillermo (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Guillherme Siqueira (Atlético de Madrid).

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Athletic Club. Ager Aketxe replaces Markel Susaeta.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Sunday 21st December 2014