Levante 0-2 Atlético Madrid: Álex Grimaldo and Giuliano Simeone score

Álex Grimaldo and Giuliano Simeone scored as Atlético Madrid won 2-0 at Levante on Saturday for a seventh straight La Liga victory. The result at the Ciutat de València lifts Diego Simeone's side to the top of the table, at least until Barcelona play Alavés on Saturday night.

Match facts

• Result: Levante 0-2 Atlético Madrid (half-time 0-1)
• Competition: LaLiga EA Sports, Matchday 11
• Venue: Estadi Ciutat de València, Valencia (13:00 UK kick-off)
• Scorers: Atlético Madrid - Grimaldo 36', Giuliano Simeone 62'
• Red cards: None
• Next: Atlético Madrid v Bayern Munich, Champions League, Tuesday 3 November (20:00 UK); Atlético Madrid v Barcelona, LaLiga, Sunday 8 November (20:00 UK); Celta v Levante, LaLiga, Sunday 8 November (17:30 UK)

How the match unfolded

Both teams held a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of the victims of the rail accident in the province of Toledo. Levante started brightly: Karl Etta Eyong headed wide in the third minute, and Jan Oblak saved from Dani Requena in the 11th.

Atlético thought they had gone ahead in the 16th minute through Morten Hjulmand, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Mathew Ryan then kept out a long-range effort from Marcos Llorente.

The breakthrough came in the 36th minute. Álex Baena lofted a pass towards Grimaldo, Jon Ander Olasagasti failed to clear, and the Valencia-born left-back drove a left-footed shot into the top corner at the near post. Oblak saved a Roger Brugué header four minutes later to protect the lead.

Ryan denied Julián Álvarez and Grimaldo early in the second half before Atlético doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute. Baena collected the ball in his own half, carried it forward at speed and played a through ball for Giuliano Simeone, who beat Ryan with his left foot.

Simeone made a double change in the 67th minute, sending on Jonathan David and Alexander Sørloth for Lee Kang-in and Álvarez. Levante responded with four substitutions in the 71st minute and pushed hard late on. Oblak saved headers from Brugué in the 85th minute and Iván Romero in stoppage time, and Levante finished with 20 shots, only four of them on target.

What does the win mean for Atlético Madrid?

Atlético move to 28 points from 11 games, one ahead of Barcelona, who have a game in hand. The run of league wins continues after Julián Álvarez's goal beat Deportivo last weekend and Baena's late winner at Espanyol earlier this month.

Grimaldo's goal came on his first official appearance as a professional at the Ciutat de València, Mundo Deportivo reported, and was his fourth of the season. A demanding week follows, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona both visiting the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

What happens next for Levante?

Luís Castro's side stay on 10 points after a second straight league defeat, following a 2-1 loss at Real Sociedad. Earlier in the season they came from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 with Sevilla at home. Next up is a trip to Celta on Sunday 8 November. More results are in our La Liga section.

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