Atletico Madrid lose ground on LaLiga title race after loss at Athletic Bilbao

Atletico Madrid lost more ground in the LaLiga title race as Alex Berenguer condemned them to a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

Berenguer struck a brilliant winner five minutes from time after Nico Williams had laid a ball into his path 20 yards from goal.

Atletico saw their seven-match winning run in all competitions ended by a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona on Tuesday.

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the league on Saturday afternoon with an extraordinary 5-3 win at Real Betis, and Diego Simeone’s side are now nine points adrift of the Catalans.

Berenguer’s winner provided the perfect antidote for Bilbao after their 3-0 home defeat to Real Madrid in midweek.

Bilbao had the first big chance of the game with Gorka Guruzeta failing to divert Jesus Areso’s cross goalwards.

Atletico bared their attacking teeth for the first time when Thiago Almada brought a save from Unai Simon.

Oihan Sancet, Williams and Berenguer were all guilty of missing the target as the hosts cranked up the first-half pressure.

Atleti fashioned little of note and were fortunate to survive two minutes before the break when Jan Oblak denied Sancet from inside the box.

The second half saw Nico Gonzalez head over for Atletico and Simon respond well to a Giuliano Simeone shot from outside the box.

Williams tested Oblak low down with an angled effort and it seemed as though Atletico would leave San Mames with a point.

But Berenguer had other ideas and his first goal of the season moved Bilbao to within a point of fifth-placed Betis.