Julian Alvarez scored twice to help Atletico Madrid win 3-0 at Valencia on Saturday and lift his team provisionally into first place of the Spanish league.
Antoine Griezmann played a part in both of Alvarez’s first-half goals with a pair of finely placed lobs inside Valencia’s box.
Alvarez finished off a move in the 12th minute inside Valencia’s area that started with a lifted pass from Griezmann that Samuel Lino volleyed off the bar. Guiliano Simeone was first to the rebound and tapped it to Alvarez to ram into the net.
Griezmann was again left with space and time to think inside the area before he landed a perfectly placed pass between Valencia’s center backs for Alvarez to gently nod off the turf and inside the post on the half-hour mark.
Angel Correa completed the scoring with four minutes remaining.
We are still in the fight, Alvarez said. We are leaders now, but there is a long way to go.
Barcelona, however, reclaimed the lead after a win at Las Palmas. Real Madrid is also two points behind and will play Girona on Sunday.