<p>Madrid: Atletico Madrid climbed into provisional top spot in LaLiga with a battling 1-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday thanks to a second-half strike from substitute Julian Alvarez.</p><p>Diego Simeone's side top LaLiga with 56 points, two clear of Barcelona, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday, and third-placed Real Madrid, who lost 2-1 at Real Betis on Saturday.</p><p>Athletic stay fourth on 48 points.</p><p>Atletico came close to taking the lead in the first half through Alexander Sorloth, who missed a header from Antoine Griezmann's pass and again from Giuliano Simeone's cross.</p><p>Before the break the Norway striker tried another header from Nahuel Molina's cross but failed to convert once more.</p>.La Liga | Real Madrid miss chance to go top with 2-1 loss at Betis.<p>Nico and Inaki Williams also came close for the visitors, but the brothers could not find the back of Jan Oblak's net.</p><p>Alvarez, who came on for Sorloth just before the hour mark, eventually scored the winner in the 66th minute with a precise left-foot shot after being played through by Marcos Llorente.</p><p>Bilbao never gave up and almost equalised in the dying minutes when substitute Gorka Guruzeta met Yuri Berchiche's cross in the centre of the box but his shot flew wide.</p><p>"A very important victory," said Alvarez. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy. We're up there and we're in the fight. We had a lot of chances. We had to score and luckily the goal came.</p><p>"I feel very comfortable. My teammates have helped me a lot, the people give me all their affection," added the forward who joined Atleti from Manchester City in the close season.</p><p>"The important thing is the team and we're still in the fight (for the title)."</p>
<p>Madrid: Atletico Madrid climbed into provisional top spot in LaLiga with a battling 1-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday thanks to a second-half strike from substitute Julian Alvarez.</p><p>Diego Simeone's side top LaLiga with 56 points, two clear of Barcelona, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday, and third-placed Real Madrid, who lost 2-1 at Real Betis on Saturday.</p><p>Athletic stay fourth on 48 points.</p><p>Atletico came close to taking the lead in the first half through Alexander Sorloth, who missed a header from Antoine Griezmann's pass and again from Giuliano Simeone's cross.</p><p>Before the break the Norway striker tried another header from Nahuel Molina's cross but failed to convert once more.</p>.La Liga | Real Madrid miss chance to go top with 2-1 loss at Betis.<p>Nico and Inaki Williams also came close for the visitors, but the brothers could not find the back of Jan Oblak's net.</p><p>Alvarez, who came on for Sorloth just before the hour mark, eventually scored the winner in the 66th minute with a precise left-foot shot after being played through by Marcos Llorente.</p><p>Bilbao never gave up and almost equalised in the dying minutes when substitute Gorka Guruzeta met Yuri Berchiche's cross in the centre of the box but his shot flew wide.</p><p>"A very important victory," said Alvarez. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy. We're up there and we're in the fight. We had a lot of chances. We had to score and luckily the goal came.</p><p>"I feel very comfortable. My teammates have helped me a lot, the people give me all their affection," added the forward who joined Atleti from Manchester City in the close season.</p><p>"The important thing is the team and we're still in the fight (for the title)."</p>