Atletico Madrid equalled their best ever winning streak at home in La Liga in a memorable season for the club with a 2-0 win Sunday over Levante.
Goals from Adrian Lopez and Jorge Resurrecion 'Koke' saw Levante win their 12th straight league game at the Calderon and match the club record dating back to a run between the 1939-40 and 1940-41 seasons.
They have now had 18 straight victories in all competitions at home and during this campaign have overshadowed their more prestigious city rivals Real Madrid who face Valencia later.
Atletico now trail leaders Barcelona by eight points after the Catalan side lost their first league game of the season on Saturday, 3-2 against Real Sociedad, while Real Madrid are 18 points off the pace.
Atletico pressed Levante back from the start and Radamel Falcao fluffed a chance in front of goal after just three minutes.
Levante's own European hopes are based on a compact defence and they seemed happy to allow Atletico to whip in crosses from both wings but just after the half hour mark the home side caught them out.
Tiago Cardoso found Javier Manquillo on the right of the area and he squared for Adrian to tuck the ball home.
Koke added a second with a fine strike from 25 yards on the hour mark but the bad news was that Falcao went off with a leg strain.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Osasuna beat Deportivo la Coruna 2-1 and Valladolid won 2-0 against Zaragoza.
Real Madrid are set to face a heated reception at the Mestalla with Valencia seeking revenge after a 2-0 defeat in the King?s Cup last week when they were left angered by several refereeing decisions.
Madrid return to the Mestalla on Wednesday night for the second leg of the cup game and it is possible that coach Jose Mourinho will rest players ahead of the game which is now a priority given Barca?s lead in the championship.
Source: AFP
