Atletico de Madrid 1 - 0 Las Palmas: Saul Niguez sets Atletico Madrid back to winning ways in LaLiga

Posted Sunday, December 18, 2016 by PA

Saul Niguez made the difference as Atletico Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Las Palmas in LaLiga.

Both sides hit the woodwork in an entertaining opening 45 minutes, with Saul striking the inside of a post from an acrobatic volley before Mauricio Lemos stepped out of defence to crack a 40-yard shot against the Atleti crossbar.

Las Palmas continued to frustrate the hosts but Antoine Griezmann went close on a couple of occasions prior to Saul earning the victory with a wonderful curling effort for his first goal of the season.

For Atletico, the result partly made up for Monday's defeat at Villarreal.

The early exchanges were dominated by Atletico with Las Palmas camped in their own half before Kevin Gameiro created the first opening after 10 minutes.

Picking the ball up on the edge of the box, Gameiro played a neat one-two with Koke but the Frenchman took too long to get his shot away, with Lemos making a terrific last-ditch tackle to deny him.

Atletico continued the pressure through a Koke corner which was punched clear by Javi Varas to Griezmann. Griezmann nodded the ball to Yannick Ferreira Carrasco but he fired his volley high and wide.

A long throw from Juanfran caused chaos for Las Palmas before Saul acrobatically volleyed against the inside of the right post, with Griezmann flashing the rebound across the six-yard box to no avail.

Griezmann, who has not scored in LaLiga since October 2, tried to end that drought with a strike from 20 yards but could only curl just wide of the right post after 29 minutes.

The visitors started to grow into the game and Helder Lopes skipped down the left wing before the ball broke to Jonathan Viera in the area. His shot was blocked before Michel screwed the rebound wide from 20 yards.

Lemos gave the hosts another reminder after 32 minutes with a thumping effort from 40 yards which rattled the crossbar, with Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya well beaten by what would have been a contender for goal of the season.

Just before the break, Griezmann skipped down the right wing but his effort was easily blocked by Varas as the two sides went into the half-time interval scoreless.

Nabil El Zhar kick-started the second-half action after 49 minutes when the ball broke to him in the area but he could only fire straight at a relieved Moya.

Los Rojiblancos nearly opened the scoring with a training ground set-piece, leaving Koke free on the edge of the box from where he fired his effort well over the bar.

The deadlock was broken after 59 minutes when Griezmann's initial shot was blocked by Lemos before the ball ricocheted to Saul who beautifully curled his 25-yard effort past the diving Varas.

The visitors came close to an quick equaliser through Roque Mesa but Saul produced a fantastic last-ditch block to deflect the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

Las Palmas went even closer moments later with a teasing cross by Viera which Marko Livaja was inches from connecting with before Michel blazed the loose ball over the crossbar.

Los Amarillos pushed for a late leveller with Momo creating space, but his shot was well saved by Moya with the 32-year-old pouncing on the loose ball and ensuring the hosts went back to winning ways.