Atletico cut the gap with Barcelona after Celta win

Bengaluru, March 12: Atletico Madrid crushed Celta Vigo 3-0 at home in a La Liga tie to reduce the gap with leaders Barcelona to eight points.

Following the defeat to the Catalan giants in the previous week, Atletico had lost ground in the La Liga stakes, but the resounding win against Celta have put them back on track.

"There is still a long way to go. We take things one game at a time and we will try to continue that way," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone of his side's title chances.

"My desire is to be in with a chance with five games left. Then we will be able to speak about something more," he added.

Atletico are second in the standings on 64 points after 28 games while leaders Barcelona have 72 after winning 2-0 at Malaga and third-placed Real Madrid have 57.

Match stats | Results | Points table

France forward Antoine Griezmann broke the deadlock a minute before half-time to move on to 16 league goals for the season and draw level with Celta forward Iago Aspas as the fourth top scorer in the top flight.

Luis Suarez ➕⚽
Cristiano Ronaldo ➕⚽⚽
Antoine Griezmann ➕⚽#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/8GGY608AWL

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) March 12, 2018

Griezmann then set up the second goal in the 54th with a pin-point through ball to the feet of Spain international Vitolo, who scored his first Liga goal for Atletico since his move from Sevilla.ngel Correa then replaced Vitolo from the bench and rounded off the scoring in the 63rd minute with a powerful run into the area before firing into the bottom corner. The effort left coach Diego Simeone exuberantly punching the air in celebration.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak returned to the team after a groin injury kept him out of the Europa League last-16 first leg win over Lokomotiv Moscow on Thursday. However, the Slovenian did not seem to be fully fit and was unable to take goal kicks.

(With Agency inputs)