Atlético Madrid slipped further behind in the La Liga title chase after Álex Berenguer’s late strike earned Athletic Club a hard-fought 1-0 victory at San Mamés.
With just five minutes remaining, Berenguer swept home a superb effort from the edge of the area after Nico Williams teed him up, punishing a below-par Atlético who struggled to threaten throughout.
Diego Simeone’s men arrived in Bilbao still reeling from their 3-1 loss to Barcelona in midweek, a result that halted their seven-match winning streak.
Barça’s thrilling 5-3 triumph over Real Betis earlier on Saturday only deepened Atleti’s woes, leaving them now nine points off the top.
Athletic, eager to bounce back from a bruising 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, started the brighter side.
Gorka Guruzeta failed to convert Jesús Areso’s early delivery, while Oihan Sancet, Williams and Berenguer all threatened without reward.
Thiago Almada produced Atleti’s only meaningful first-half opportunity, but Unai Simón got down sharply to save. Jan Oblak, meanwhile, was far busier, denying Sancet from close range moments before halftime.
After the interval, Nico González headed over for the visitors and Giuliano Simeone forced Simón into action, but Athletic continued to look more dangerous.
Williams tested Oblak again before Berenguer finally broke the deadlock, notching his first goal of the campaign and lifting Athletic to within touching distance of fifth place.
For Atlético, their title hopes took another major dent and the gap keeps widening.
