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BILBAO, Spain (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid's 2-0 defeat of Athletic Bilbao could cost Athletic Bilbao 2-0, which could leave them 10 points behind. on the Barcelona leader at the end of the weekend.
Bilbao striker Inaki Williams opened the scoring in the 73rd minute following an empty goal, after Jose Gimenez of Atletico delivered the ball into his own camp.
Kenan Kodro sealed Athletic's victory five minutes from the end of the match thanks to a shot that deflected Gimenez from a huge deflection, which made Atletico suffer four days after being eliminated from the Champions League by Juventus.
Atletico is second in the standings with 56 points while Barca has 63 and can increase his advantage at the top by visiting Real Betis on Sunday.
Atletico had failed to fit in Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Juventus, which had led them 3-2 overall, but the return of Diego Costa led coach Diego Simeone to line up an exciting thrilling striker from Costa, Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata. .
Yeray Alvarez refused the shot on goal, but it was the only moment of danger for the visitors in an equal first half in which Athletic also rejected a penalty call for Saul Niguez's handball.
The breakthrough came when Inigo Cordoba stole the possession of Gimenez, who played a brace with Raul Garcia before attempting a shot that went past the furthest post until Williams managed to get the ball back.
After Kodro doubled the advantage of Bilbao, Atletico had the opportunity to score a goal in the last minute when midfielder Rodri led the ball into the area but Morata missed the target from afar.
Simeone thought his team was still feeling the effects of his collapse against Juventus.
"After the bad performance we gave in Turin, we struggled to go ahead and we could not create opportunities," Simeone said.
"The second half was different, we showed we wanted to win, but they were clinical with the chances that they created."
Argentina would not be fired to know if the title race was over.
"We are used to fighting and competing but it's a time for us to sit, watch and try to grow," he said.
"We are in a privileged position in the league after seven good months and we hope to stay in. We are used to fighting for the trophies until the end.Now we are moving away from Barcelona, but this is not the case. was not easy after what happened. " in Turin. "
(Report by Richard Martin edited by Ed Osmond)
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