VILLARREAL: Substitute Saul Niguez slotted home an 87th-minute winner to give Atletico Madrid a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Villarreal on Monday, as Diego Simeone’s side climbed back into La Liga’s top four with eight games left in the season.

It was a much needed win for Atletico after two consecutive losses and two wins in their last seven league matches had left them in danger of missing out on a Champions League spot next season.

They were facing an in-form Villarreal side, who were on a four-game winning streak and unbeaten in their last nine league matches, a run that earned Marcelino Garcia La Liga’s Coach of Month award in March.

Axel Witsel nodded Atletico ahead after nine minutes but Alexander Sorloth pegged back the visitors soon after half-time of an entertaining clash. Saul decided an even game in the final stages less than five minutes after coming on.

“[Saul] entered the game well and scored a great goal,” Simeone told Movistar. “I’ve put him on a bunch of times because I believe in him and I hope he can give us a lot.”

Atletico moved to fourth in the standings on 58 points, two ahead of Athletic Bilbao, who lost 2-0 to leaders Real Madrid on Sunday.

Girona are third on 65 points, two behind second-placed Barcelona. Real are comfortably ahead at the summit on 75 points while Villarreal are 10th on 38.

Simeone said his team still needed to improve to lock down Champions League qualification for next season.

“Athletic are having a very good season, Girona aren’t giving up, and we have to improve,” said the coach. “Pace of play and intensity decide things and we have to improve in that regard.”

Witsel drew first blood with a fine header from Rodrigo Riquelme’s corner, twisting his body to meet the ball at the near post and direct it looping home at the far.

The 35-year-old Belgian had only scored once before for Atletico, also against Villarreal last November.

Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen made two fine reflex saves from efforts by Samuel Lino and Marcos Llorente to keep the hosts in the game and Gerard Moreno wasted a great chance from close range to level just before halftime.

But Alexander Sorloth took advantage of a mistake by Antoine Griezmann to equalise five minutes after the break. The French forward stepped on the ball and lost possession before Villarreal found Sorloth who fired a tidy finish past goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Atletico substitute Angel Correa flashed a shot narrowly off target and Alvaro Morata fired straight at Jorgensen, albeit from a wide angle, as Atletico scrambled to go back in front.

Jan Oblak saved a low deflected effort from Yerson Mosquera at the other end, with the game opening up.

As the tension grew, Correa’s header hit the crossbar before Villarreal’s Dani Parejo missed a sitter from close range.

However, a resilient Atletico found the winner in the 87th minute when Cesar Azpilicueta fed Saul who calmly sidefooted the ball home left-footed from the edge of the area, and although Atletico had to nervously wait out a VAR check for a possible offside, the goal was given.

Villarreal came close to levelling deep in stoppage time when Bertrand Traore’s cross evaded everyone and flew just past Oblak’s far post.

“It was a difficult match,” Witsel told Movistar Plus. “Villarreal pressed more in the second half than in the first. We were better in the first half. We have to press at the back and do the job. [Simeone] will want us to do better next, but he will be very happy with the victory.”

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2024