PENALTY? Barrall gets tangled up with Gimenez, but the referee waves play on! I've just seen it twice on the replay and the defender was definitely at fault there. Atleti get away with one!
90'
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOUR! Juanfran's cutback is perfectly placed for Garcia to strike, but he gets his legs stuck in cement and can't direct it past Marino. It's almost as if they didn't want to break their perfect headed-goal record in this game.
88'
It;s comfortable now for Atletico, but there was a 20 minutes spell when they looked in real danger of a banana-peel result. Levante couldn't push home when they had the momentum, though.
86'
Well, Levante needed to snap a streak of three straight draws, but not like this. Alcaraz can have no complaints today as his side were outclassed in almost every aspect on the pitch.
84'
Saúl enters the game and replaces A. Griezmann.
Griezmann exits to a hearty standing ovation. He'll have to live without the hat trick, but his fingerprints are still all over this game. Aside from the goals, what a no-holds-barred performance!
82'
D. Godín has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid! Assist by Tiago.
GODIN SURELY SEALS IT! A corner is played short to Tiago, who uses his left foot to ship a cross into the heart of the area. Marino goes up for it among a throng of players, but it's Godin who gets his head to the ball first.
80'
Mandzukic has put in an honest shift today, but his night is ended as Jimenez takes his place. The Mexican gets yet another chance to impress amid speculation that he could leave the Vicente Calderon on loan.
79'
R. Jiménez enters the game and replaces M. Mandžukić.
78'
Such a tight feel to the game now. Atletico have finally begun to respond since conceding, forcing some pressure on the Levante defence once more. Don't rule the visitors out of this for a second though.
76'
Garcia has been sparring with Sissoko since coming on, and their latest altercation catches too much heat and has to be quelled by the referee. Yellow cards to come for the pair.
Minute
Description
75'
M. Sissoko gets yellow.
Raúl García gets yellow.
74'
Gabi, who has cracked in one or two long-range specials in his time (just ask Real Madrid), takes aim from at least 30 yards, but his effort does not come close to troubling Marino.
73'
David Barral enters the game and replaces N. Karabelas.
72'
Some scintillating passing sequences from the visitors are getting the home fans antsy. Levante are committing real numbers forward and it's becoming one-way traffic in the direction of Moya's goal.
70'
There's a renewed belief from Levante in the second half, and there's little question why. What a magnificent result this will be for les Granotes if they can manage to grab another goal here.
68'
If that substitution is any indication, then Simeone is not prepared to lock down on this one-goal lead. He wants a third, to restore that two-goal cushion. And why wouldn't he, given that his side have been superior in every aspect of this match.
66'
Raúl García enters the game and replaces A. Turan.
Some confusion in the Atleti ranks as a board malfunction leaves Mandzukic and Arda guessing as to which one of them is to be withdrawn. Eventually, it's confirmed that the Turk would depart for Raul Garcia.
64'
Just when los Rojiblancos looked like running up a cricket score, we suddenly have a real slog on our hands. Levante are really trying to force the issue now with a series of crosses.
62'
N. El Zhar has scored a goal for Levante! Assist by Iván López.
LEVANTE HAVE ONE BACK! El Zhar, barely on the pitch for a few seconds, turns in a low cross from victor with the Atleti defence at a standstill. Game on!
60'
N. El Zhar enters the game and replaces Rafael Martins.
59'
Mandzukic fires one wide of the far post. It looks like his goalscoring touch has eluded him today, but that's not to blight his performance at all. He's been giving a target-man clinic.
57'
You just have to love the way that the members of the Atletico team have bought into Simeone's system. Everyone has a clearly defined role, apart from Griezmann, who has seemingly been instructed to pop up anywhere with the sole purpose of wreaking havoc.
55'
NEARLY A THIRD! Arda hangs a cross to the six-yard area that Mandzukic, as ever, wins ahead of his man. He knocks it down for Griezmann who deftly tees up Tiago from 18 yards, but the veteran midfielder's curler is just an inch over the top!
53'
Levante have done a decent job in the last few minutes to force pressure on Atletico down the right flank. However, they can't manufacture the final ball in time and have been reduced to a series of long throws. Atletico deal with that speculative threat with consummate ease.
51'
It's all uphill now for Levante. They've created nothing of note in the final third, and now have to risk pushing further men forward. Such a gamble to take, but one they really have to if they want anything from this game.
49'
That's eight goals for Griezmann at his new club now, of which four have been scored with his head. Marino did everything he could, but there's no denying the Frenchman this evening. He's been unleashed.
47'
A. Griezmann has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid!
ATLETICO HAVE ANOTHER GOAL! Juanfran hooks a cross towards Mandzukic, who towers to put a punishing header on goal. Marino makes a superb save, but Griezmann is on the rebound, guiding it over the line with his head, despite the keeper's best efforts at a follow-up stop.
46'
Here we go again.
45'
That last decision against Mandzukic has gotten the crowd in a cantankerous mood heading into the half-time break. Juanfran tries to ride that momentum into one last attack, but he scoops his cross well over the head of any interested parties.
43'
Mandzukic, as is his wont, has been battling away with the centre backs all game. He commits a foul on Morales and is incensed at the decision. That reaction, combined with a few persistent infractions, leaves the referee with no choice but to flash the yellow in his direction.
42'
M. Mandžukić gets yellow.
41'
The intensity has gone out of Atletico's attack in the last 10 minutes or so. Levante look to be shutting things down for the remainder of the half, content to go into the break with only a one-goal deficit.
39'
Marino, with the sun beating in his eyes, sees a low cross from Koke late, and just about manages to divert it away from goal with his legs. Luckily for Levante, he got enough juice on his clearance, taking it away from Mandzukic and Arda, who were lurking centrally.
37'
Gabi attempts to thread the needle to Arda down the right-hand side, but the Turk is narrowly offside. This time, Levante had played an offside trap, and it worked. A risky approach to take though.
35'
I've just seen another replay of the Mandzukic near-post attempt for moments ago and he hilariously tried to slap the ball into the back of the net with his hand.
34'
Griezmann has shown some real fortitude in this game, running right at the defence time and time again. His speed and ability to beat his man is proving to be a nightmare. Simeone started him as the most central of his attacking midfield trio, and it's working a treat.
32'
Los Colchoneros fashion another advance down the right flank, but as Mandzukic stretches every sinew to connect with a low cross to the near post, but the offside flag is up again to thwart him. He's a little slow to come up from that attempt as well.
30'
Mandzukic looks to be in for a second, but holds up and lays the ball off for Arda. Griezmann makes a darting diagonal run that catches the attention of the defence for a second, which allows the Turk enough time to angle an effort towards goal, missing the target by inches.
28'
Victor rattles a volley wide - an effort that never left the realms of speculation and hope. Atletico are persisting with this measured approach, passing the ball around their more defensive players and trying to draw Levante's defence further up the field.
26'
A chance for Levante to catch their breath as Atletico elect to build slowly from the back. Make no mistake, this is all entirely by design from the hosts, who are in complete control of this contest.
24'
Atletico are called for their fourth offside as another promising attack breaks down thanks to a minor miscue. It's a sign of their dominance, that stat. Levante are under immense pressure.
23'
P. Diop gets yellow.
22'
Diop gives Juanfran a chop to prevent him from making another overlapping run down the right. Yellow card for the central midfielder who has been completely overwhelmed in the exchanges so far.
20'
YET ANOTHER headed goal for Atletico Madrid. That's a side to his game that Griezmann has displayed with increasing proficiency since his move to the capital side. It's truly becoming something of a lost art in the modern game - a dedicated and effective aerial approach at the highest level.
18'
A. Griezmann has scored a goal for Atletico Madrid!
RIGHT ON CUE! ATLETICO LEAD! Siqueira again is able to fashion an inch of space on the left to get his cross towards the near post. Griezmann storms in front of his man to plant a fantastic header into the back of the net - one that Mandzukic would have been proud of.
17'
At this point it looks like only a matter of time before Atletico take the lead. They've dominated all of the ball and are finding creative ways to manufacture shooting opportunities in and around the Levante 18-yard area. It's complete one-way traffic.
15'
Griezmann orchestrates another Atleti attack, releasing Siqueira down the left-hand side. The Brazilian hangs a cross into the six-yard area for Mandzukic to attack, but the striker's header goes narrowly wide! Not the first time he's gotten the jump on his marker.
13'
GOAL RULED OUT! Griezmann takes charge of the set piece, and his delivery finds Mandzukic at the far post. He heads across the face of goal and Godin smashes home, but the flag is up on the far side. A great decision, as the Uruguayan had just strayed offside.
11'
Juanfran Garcia spots Mandzukic trying to edge towards goal on his blind side, and responds with a body check. The referee takes a note of that incident and books the Levante skipper. That's a player now walking a yellow-card tightrope in a position where so many Atleti attacks will conceivably be channeled.
10'
Juanfran gets yellow.
Juanfran is clipped while overlapping down the right, and Atleti have another set piece deep in the opposition third. The initial delivery is met by Vyntra's head, but Levante can't clear it far enough, and the visitors invite unnecessary pressure on themselves.
8'
Levante make their first dedicated advance into the opposition half. Rafael Martins touches the ball wide of his man to manufacture some shooting space, but in the process, he creates a far too demanding angle for himself. His shot, therefore, is right down the throat of Moya.
7'
Griezmann gives an early display of his stripes with a bubbling run down the centre that sees him tripped up by Vyntra. A great free-kick chance for the hosts about 25 yards out, but the delivery catches three Rojiblancos players offside. Poor execution.
5'
The home side start in complete control of possession, and are already trying to launch a few balls in towards Mandzukic. Juanfran Garcia and Loukas Vyntra will have their hands full, not least with Griezmann looking to burst late into the box to link with the tall Croatian.
3'
Torres is in the house at the Vicente Calderon, watching his boyhood club from the stands. Outstanding atmosphere inside this stadium but then again, the Atleti fans always bring it on game day.
1'
We're off!
Hello and welcome back to La Liga. The Christmas break ends with this weekend's early kickoff, as Atletico Madrid host Levante. Both sides have opposite agendas - with the hosts looking to draw closer to league leaders Real Madrid, while the visitors need to pull further away from the relegation zone. I'm Keeghann Sinananm your guide for all the action.
There's a good feeling around the Atleti camp with the return of fan favourite Fernando Torres to the Rojiblancos from AC Milan. The former Chelsea man will not feature today as his official unveiling is scheduled for Monday when the Italian transfer window opens, but that hasn't stopped some fans from being whipped into a frenzy.
Levante have had an upturn in fortunes since appointing Lucas Alcaraz to replace Jose Luis Mendilibar in October, back when they were languishing second from bottom. They've lost just one of their last seven in the league to move into 15th place, but a string of draws has gathered a small sense of missed opportunities for points.
Atletico, in third, smashed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 just prior to the winter break and at this stage, they need every point that they can get to keep within touching distance of Real Madrid. A win tonight will see them on 38 points, drawing them to within one of los Blancos - but their rivals will still have two games in hand. Even second-placed Barcelona, themselves currently on 38 points, will have played one game less than the Rojiblancos by the end of today.
Miranda, in the midst of transfer speculation, has not been chosen in the squad tonight, meaning that Jose Gimenez will start at the back. Interestingly, Koke has been chosen in a wide role on the left rather than his usual central midfield position. He has played there before and does tend to drift to the flanks from time to time during the course of a match, so it's not unfamiliar territory for him.
Juanfran Garcia captains the visitors tonight from central defence. They've lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formaton, but expect them to deviate between that and a 4-5-1 when in a defensive phase of play. Rafael Martins will lead the line for Levante tonight.
Half time at the Vicente Calderon and Atletico hold a comfortable 1-0 lead at the break. Los Colchoneros have been eminently at ease in this game, creating chances and applying some real pressure in the final third. Levante have shown nothing in attack that would suggest that they could get back into the game if Atleti were to score again, so Alcaraz should be privately pleased that his side are only a goal down. Stay tuned for the restart in just a bit.
The referee ends an enthralling game as Atleti take the three points they need to move to within one of league leaders Real Madrid - who still have two games in hand. A professional display led by the effervescent Griezmann, who is well on his way to staking his claim as the star man of this team. Levante had brief hope when El Zhar pulled one back but in truth, it would be harsh to deny los Rojoblancos full points.
That's all from me, I've been Keeghann Sinanan and it's been a pleasure to welcome you back to La Liga.
Commentary
More…