In a thrilling La Liga encounter on Saturday, Atletico Madrid secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Levante, largely thanks to a super-sub performance from veteran forward Antoine Griezmann.
Match Summary and Key Moments
The home side took an early lead at the Metropolitano stadium in the 12th minute. Pablo Barrios' cross-shot was parried by Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, only for the ball to deflect off defender Adrian de la Fuente and into the net for an unfortunate own goal.
Levante responded well and pulled level just nine minutes later. Manu Sanchez was left completely unmarked at a corner and made no mistake, heading home to become the first player to score against Atletico in four league matches.
Griezmann's Game-Changing Impact
With the match tied, Atletico coach Diego Simeone introduced Antoine Griezmann from the bench after the hour mark. The decision paid immediate dividends, as the Frenchman scored just 28 seconds after coming on, tapping in a cut-back from Marcos Llorente. This was the fastest goal by a substitute in La Liga in the past decade.
Griezmann wasn't finished, sealing the three points with his second goal in the 80th minute. He pounced to turn the ball over the line after Ryan had saved an effort from Julian Alvarez.
Post-Match Reactions and League Standings
Speaking after the match, Griezmann acknowledged the importance of the squad's depth. "It's hard for us to find solutions sometimes, but those of us who come on from the bench are always bringing a boost," he told Movistar. "I prefer to play... but I accept it, I am a professional and I have to continue like this to support my team-mates."
Levante thought they had a consolation goal in stoppage time through Carlos Alvarez, but it was correctly ruled out for offside against Matias Moreno. Despite a competitive performance, Levante remain in 17th place and dangerously close to the relegation zone.
This result provisionally moves Atletico Madrid into third place in the La Liga table, above Villarreal. The team has now taken the lead in every league game they have played this season.
