Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad: Diego Simeone's men edge closer to becoming LaLiga champions

A jubilant Diego Simeone scurried off down the wide tunnel of the Wanda Metropolitano on the final whistle punching the air. 

That reaction, and the fireworks from outside the ground from supporters whose songs had been heard inside the arena showed just what this win meant – Atletico Madrid had beaten Real Sociedad 2-1 and they are two games from the title now.

Yannick Carrasco got the first on 16 minutes from Marcos Llorente’s assist after a well-worked corner. Luis Suarez teed-up Angel Correa for the second on 28 minutes.

Atletico Madrid took one step closer to becoming champions after beating Real Sociedad

Carrasco pokes the ball into the Real Sociedad net after being superbly found by Llorente

The Belgian winger slides on his knees after breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute

‘There is still a long way to go,’ said Koke after the win. 

He knows that’s not true but it will seem an age between here and Sunday when Atletico play their penultimate game against Osasuna. First comes Real Madrid’s game tomorrow night against Granada. 

Another slip-up from them, they now trail by five points with a game in hand, and Atletico will be even closer. Simeone has already admitted these are games he cannot bear to watch.

He was beside himself with 20 minutes left, putting on Joao Felix and Geoffrey Kondogbia for Correa and Saul in the hope a three-goal cushion could some how be conjured up. 

It was Joao Felix’ 15th start as a sub, something that only happened eight times last season. Saul was upset with the change, he had put in one of his best performances of the season.

Angel Correa doubled Atletico’s lead in the first half to put the hosts in control

Correa’s simple finish helped Atletico established a solid lead at the Wanda Metropolitano

The substitutions almost provoked the third when Koke put Suarez clear but he lifted his shot over the bar. It was Suarez last contribution, changed on 80 minutes having set-up one of the two goals but missed various chances to move to 20 goals for the season.

Just before he went off Real Sociedad had their best chance so far to score, and immediately after he was replaced the visitors did score. First came the miss with Portu smashing the ball on to the post. 

It came out to Jon Bautista and he looked set to score but heroic Stefan Savic threw himself in front of the shot to block it.

Suarez went off, kicking a bottle as he went, frustrated having missed the late chance to put the game beyond doubt. 

La Real scored with their next corner. Atletico failed to clear at their near post and unmarked in the six yard box Igor Zubeldia scored his first goal of the season. 

However, Igor Zubeldia pulled one back for the visitors to set up a tense finish in Madrid

Zubeldia celebrates after he bundled the ball into the net in the 83rd minute

However, Simeone’s men held on to secure three crucial points in the LaLiga title race

Atletico were sweating now. Their possession levels had dropped to 35 percent and ghosts of recent dropped points late in games were now haunting Simeone pacing up and down his technical area. 

Atletico’s had dropped their intensity level in the second half but they were so close now as the board was held up for just three minutes. 

They held on for the points – grateful again to Jan Oblak who had saved brilliantly from Isak in the first half, pleased to have the old Saul back, relieved by another Correa goal, and buoyed by the brilliance of Carrasco who had led the way with the opener.

They are 180 minutes from the title and Simeone’s tunnel sprint showed it.