Atletico Madrid 2 Villarreal 0: Morata scores to keep title challenge on track

Alvaro Morata finally ended his barren streak for Atletico Madrid to set it on its way to victory over Villarreal.

Alvaro Morata celebrates his goal against Villarreal with Saul Niguez.

Alvaro Morata scored his first senior goal for Atletico Madrid as it secured a 2-0 La Liga win over Villarreal at the Wanda Metropolitano. 

The Spain striker had gone nine league matches without scoring, his worst run since January 2016 when he played for Juventus, but his clever finish after 31 minutes set Diego Simeone's side on its way before Saul Niguez added a late second. 

Barcelona's battling 4-2 defeat of Sevilla on Saturday left Atleti needing a good result to keep the pressure on in the title race, and Simeone named a strong side despite having only four days' rest from the Champions League victory over Juventus.

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Atleti could have paid for a slow start, though, when Karl Toko Ekambi went through on goal, but he could only shoot straight at the legs of Jan Oblak. 

Morata had been denied by a good save from Sergio Asenjo, but he made the most of his next opening, turning Filipe Luis' cross from the left beyond the keeper with a smart first-time finish with his left foot. 

Diego Costa replaced Morata 58 minutes in and twice failed to make the most of one-on-one chances, while Jose Gimenez should have done better with a header he sent into Asenjo's grasp via the turf. 

Gerard Moreno saw a chance snuffed out by Filipe Luis after a fine Alvaro Gonzalez pass, but Villarreal never looked likely to snatch an equaliser before Saul made the result safe, lofting the ball over Asenjo and into the net after the covering Victor Ruiz misjudged the flight of the finish.

26 - Álvaro Morata's first goal for Atlético de Madrid ended a sequence of nine uninterrupted passes; the second longest sequence in his 26 goals in #LaLiga. Baste pic.twitter.com/wDuCjpx5T6

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 24, 2019

 

What does it mean? Atleti's title challenge trundles along

This could have been a difficult test for Atleti, so soon after that win over Juventus and against unpredictable opponents, but IT made light work of these three points.  The win takes it back to within seven of leader Barcelona and five ahead of city rival Real Madrid, which plays Levante later on Sunday.

Filipe Luis sends message to Simeone

Barcelona is reportedly interested in signing the left-back at the end of the season, and this was a performance that showed why he remains such a strong player. He was defensively sound throughout and set up Morata's goal with a clever cross.

What's next?

Atleti heads to Real Sociedad next Sunday, while Villarreal is back in action a day earlier at home to Deportivo Alaves.