La Liga round-up: Antoine Griezmann hat-trick helps Atletico Madrid close gap on Barcelona

By PA Sport

Image: Antoine Griezmann scored a hat-trick in Atletico Madrid's 5-2 win over Sevilla

Antoine Griezmann scored a hat-trick as Atletico Madrid closed the gap on leaders Barcelona to seven points after beating Sevilla 5-2 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Diego Costa gave Atletico Madrid the lead in the 29th minute as he pounced on a poor back pass in the Sevilla defence to slam the ball past Sergio Rico.

Griezmann made it 2-0 with a stunning finish three minutes before half-time, picking up a headed clearance on the edge of the box and curling his shot into the top left-hand corner.

The visitors wrapped the victory up five minutes after half-time with both goalscorers involved. Costa was brought down by Rico and Griezmann converted the penalty to give Madrid a 3-0 lead.

Another defensive howler gifted Atletico a fourth when Griezmann intercepted Gabriel Mercado's pass to his keeper and back-heeled it for the supporting Koke to score.

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With nine minutes remaining, the France international completed his hat-trick slotting home after being set up by Saul Niguez.

Sevilla managed to score twice in the final five minutes through Pablo Sarabia and Nolito before being denied a penalty in injury time.

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Santi Mina secured Valencia's third straight La Liga win as his double saw off Real Sociedad 2-1 at the Mestalla.

Mikel Oyarzabal had equalised early in the second half, but Sociedad were undone by a dreadful error from goalkeeper Tono Ramirez after 68 minutes.

Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo both went close before Mina met Martin Montoya's deflected 34th-minute cross to head Valencia in front at the far post.

Sociedad improved after the break and Oyarzabal punished some Valencia sloppiness at the back with a firm 54th-minute finish.

But Mina's 11th league goal of the season restored Los Che's lead, the striker sliding home after Tono had failed to cut out Rodrigo Moreno's cross.

Sergio Canales almost found a late equaliser, but Valencia held firm to move within two points of third-placed Real Madrid.

Enes Unal's third-minute goal gave Villarreal a 1-0 victory over Getafe, but goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo was the real star of the show as he saved a penalty in each half.

Unal stabbed home Carlos Bacca's cross after he was played in by a superb pass from Samu Castillejo to put the Yellow Submarine in front.

The visitors were given the chance to equalise in the 35th minute when Javi Martinez hauled down Dakonam Djene in the area, but Asenjo dived to his right to save an unconvincing penalty from Angel Rodriguez.

And Asenjo repeated the feat just four minutes into the second half, this time saving from substitute Jorge Molina after Molina had been clipped by Jaume Costa as he ran into the area.

Athletic Bilbao beat bottom-placed Malaga 2-1 at San Mames to claim their first win in seven LaLiga games.

Malaga took a 13th-minute lead when Youssef En-Nesyri converted Maxime Lestienne's cross.

But Athletic were level four minutes later through Markel Susaeta, and ahead when Mikel San Jose scored his first goal of the season just before half-time.

Kepa Arrizabalaga's brilliant penalty stop from En-Nesyri prevented parity, and the Malaga striker was sent off six minutes from time when he was shown a straight red card for standing on the Athletic goalkeeper.

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