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MADRID, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid snapped a three-game winless streak in La Liga by beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home on Saturday to move level on points with table-topping Barcelona.
Saul Niguez put injury-stricken Atletico ahead in the 28th minute while Alvaro Morata bundled the ball in from close range in the 64th to seal their first home league win for four games.
Atletico have 19 points after 10 games along with champions Barca, who have a game in hand after the ‘Clasico’ against Real Madrid was postponed until December due to security concerns.
The hosts were without record 126 million euro ($139.58 million) signing Joao Felix due to an ankle injury and first-choice central defenders Jose Gimenez and Stefan Savic, while Diego Simeone left out Diego Costa in favour of Angel Correa.
Argentine Correa has enjoyed little first team football this season and was making only his second start in the league but he played a decisive role in the victory by setting up both goals.
($1 = 0.9027 euros) (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Ken Ferris)