Atlético de Madrid - Athletic Club

Athletic Club have been dealt a major setback their fight for fourth place, which is now six points away. It was a night of misfortune at the Metropolitano, as Atletico, without doing much, defeated Los Leones 3-1. 

Two of the goals conceded came via deflection, a Rodrigo de Paul shot bounced off Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta's hip, and the third goal, even more unlucky, was a Samuel Lino shot that hit the post and went in after hitting the back of Unai Simon's head.

Athletic had their moments, especially in the first half, with Nico Williams scoring and equaliser on the stroke of half-time after an Antoine Griezmann error. The goal came shortly after Juan Martínez Munuera activated LaLiga's anti-racism protocols when the Athletic winger heard racist sounds from the stands. 

Pitiful, as much if not more so than the whistles and boos he received every time he picked up the ball from then on. As Iñaki Williams rightly said, those jeers should have been directed at the racists.

The match began with a tribute from Atlético to Raúl García, who was accompanied on the pitch by his wife, Inés. It was the friendly side of the battle for Champions League football that was to follow, with few friends and no Athletic fans in the stands at the Metropolitano due to a unilateral decision by Atletico following the Copa semi-final in Bilbao.

Athletic had more weight in the attacking play, but De Paul's goal stunned Los Rojiblancos. Oihan Sancet had a shot in the box and then the leveller came on the back of a dazzling counter-attack.

Athletic went for the win after the break, but Angel Correa, picking up a diagonal pass, found a way past Simon and as Athletic were reeling, Atletico got their third.

Now it's time to pick ourselves up and go again for Friday's clash with Getafe.