Antoine Griezmann hero as Atletico Madrid beats Real Madrid | CNN

Antoine Griezmann the hero as Atletico Madrid edges out Real Madrid

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Atletico Madird claims narrow 1-0 over city rival Real Madrid

Antoine Griezmann scores only goal of closely fought game

CNN  — 

Not so long ago it seemed Atletico Madrid couldn’t leave so much as a scratch on crosstown rival Real Madrid.

Real went undefeated in the Madrid derby, in both league and cup fixtures, between 1999 and 2013 – an incredible hot streak spread across 25 games and 14 seasons.

But the tables have turned in the period since.

After Atletico’s hard-fought 1-0 La Liga victory over Real at the Santiago Bernabeu Saturday’s, Los Rojiblancos has lost just once in the last six La Liga matches against its illustrious neighbors.

Of more practical concerns, the result closes the gap on league leaders Barcelona, which has played a game less, to five points and increases second-place Atleti’s lead over third-placed Real to four points.

For Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, the loss was a hammer blow to its La Liga hopes.

“If you lose more points it is even more difficult,” Zidane told reporters after the match. “But we will continue, (we) will not throw in this season.

Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane (R), welcomes Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone to the Santiago Bernabeu.

French striker Antoine Griezmann scored the game’s only goal on 52 minutes, coolly slotting past Keylor Navas from 13-yards after playing a neat one-two with Filipe Luis.

Griezmann has been Atletico’s best striker by a distance this season and he finished with aplomb when the opportunity – a rare one in a game of limited chances – presented itself.

It was another contribution his manager couldn’t fail to miss.

“The pressure of Griezmann and (strike partner Fernando) Torres was spectacular,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone told reporters. ” It’s a fair victory.”

Real had come close in the first half with Cristiano Ronaldo stinging Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak’s hands via a rasping free kick.

And Real pinned Atleti back in the second half after falling behind. But the battle hardened Diego Godin masterfully marshaled the visitors back line to keep clear openings at a minimum.

Ronaldo headed straight at Oblak in the Atleti goal when found unmarked eight-yards out and Danilo fired wide from a tight angle as 90 minutes approached.

But when the whistle blew, Atleti players embraced to celebrate a third consecutive victory on Real turf.

It was a win that secured local bragging rights and did more than simply scratch the pride of the Galcticos next door.

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