Real Betis 0 Atletico Madrid 1: Saul Niguez bags only goal of the game to keep title bid alive

ATLETICO MADRID kept their title race alive with a hard fought 1-0 away win at Real Betis.

Diego Simeone’s side were without the injured Antoine Griezmann but had Saul Niguez to thank to move within three points of Barcelona.

Atletico headed into the fixture on the back of Champions League heartbreak but quickly put their European exit aside to claim three crucial points.

Betis have now won just once in the league since September as their slide continues, putting coach Quique Setien under serious pressure.

However, the hosts dominated possession throughout and were made to pay for their lack of cutting edge, as well as some fine goalkeeping by Jan Oblak.

Atletico went in front with their first serious attack on the half-hour mark as Saul slid in to meet Sime Vrsaljko’s cross.

Of the midfielder’s last 18 goals, 15 have now broken the deadlock, but unlike at Chelsea in midweek, Saul’s effort proved to be the only goal.

Indeed, the visitors should have had a second moments after going ahead when Angel Correa fired straight at Antonio Adan with Kevin Gameiro better placed.

Betis posed more of a goal threat after the break as Sergio Leon drilled a dangerous ball across the face of the goal with no takers.

Oblak then produced a wonder save to turn Cristian Tello’s sweetly struck half-volley behind for a corner.

Atletico substitute Fernando Torres should have sealed all three points when he somehow fired over from point-blank range with just Adan to beat eight minutes from time.

However, the visitors showed why they have now gone a year without defeat away in La Liga as Atletico stood strong when faced with a barrage of Betis crosses into their box in stoppage time to record a ninth clean sheet in 15 La Liga games.