MADRID // Antoine Griezmann sealed a thrilling Atletico Madrid comeback from 2-1 down with four minutes remaining to beat Celta Vigo 3-2 and move into fourth in the Primera Liga.
Sevilla remain four points ahead of Atletico in third as they moved within three points of leaders Real Madrid thanks to substitute Joaquin Correa’s winner 10 minutes from time in a 1-0 win at Las Palmas.
Real lead Barcelona by a point at the top, but also have two games in hand over their title rivals.
“It was a thrilling and emotional game with a lot of errors, but with two teams looking to win,” said Atletico manager Diego Simeone.
“The team was calm and understood there was the chance to equalise and, after the equaliser, the crowd pushed us on for the winner.”
Atletico’s top four hopes look set to take a huge blow as they once again nearly paid for their profligacy from the penalty spot.
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An error from Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya handed Gustavo Cabral an early opener for Celta.
Fernando Torres responded with a sensational looping effort into the far corner.
However, for the third straight game, Atletico failed to convert a spot kick when Torres smashed the bar midway through the first half.
Celta also hit the post before the break through Jozabed in an entertaining end-to-end encounter played in torrential Madrid rain.
However, John Guidetti looked to have delivered the telling blow when he slotted home Daniel Wass’s cutback 12 minutes from time.
Yet, Atletico responded in style as Yannick Carrasco’s crashed home a volley from 25 yards to give the hosts hope.
And just two minutes later Kevin Gameiro’s cushioned header was swept home by Griezmann for his 16th goal of the season.
“We turned it round because we are a team that gives our all in every moment and you saw that today,” Griezmann told BeIN Sports Spain.
Gameiro should even have added a fourth when he hit the underside of the bar from Carrasco’s cross in stoppage time.
Victory takes Atletico a point clear of Real Sociedad as all of the top five in La Liga won this weekend.
In Las Palmas, the hosts were the better side for the majority of the 90 minutes, but were caught out by a simple route one move as Correa latched onto Vicente Iborra’s flick on to slot home his first La Liga goal.
A first home league defeat of the season spoiled Jese’s home debut after signing for his hometown club on loan from Paris Saint-Germain for the rest of the season.
Jese had the first big chance just seven minutes in, but placed his weak shot too close to Sergio Rico who made a comfortable save.
Las Palmas were made to rue a series of missed chances just after the break as Rico parried David Simon’s volley before Alen Hallilovic curled wide.
However, for all Las Palmas’ pretty football, they were caught out by one simple long ball as Iborra flicked on Rico’s goal kick and Correa raced through to finish.
Earlier, Sporting Gijon breathed life into their bid for survival with a 2-0 win at Leganes to move to within two points of survival.
Villarreal’s Uefa Champions League hopes faded, though, as they were held 1-1 at home to Malaga to slip six points off the top four.
RESULTS:
Friday
■ Espanyol 1 Real Sociedad 2
Saturday
■ Real Betis 0 Valencia 0
■ Alaves 0 Barcelona 6
■ Athletic Bilbao 2 Deportivo la Coruna 1
■ Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 3
Sunday
■ Villarreal 1 Malaga 1
■ Leganes 0 Sporting Gijon 2
■ Las Palmas 0 Sevilla 1
■ Atletico Madrid 3 Celta Vigo 2
FIXTURE
Monday (time is UAE)
■ Eibar v Granada, 11.45pm
* Agence France-Presse
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