Antoine Griezmann proved Atletico Madrid's matchwinner for victory over Athletic Bilbao.

Aymeric Laporte had given the Basques the lead on the half-hour mark but Saul Niguez headed the hosts level right before half-time, and Griezmann completed the comeback midway through the second half with a ferocious curling shot from 25 yards.

Diego Simeone's side join Barcelona at the top of the table on 35 points and will go three points clear next week if they beat Malaga while Barca are absent from league action at the Club World Cup in Japan.

Simeone said: "We always work towards being the best, it's clear that we are on the right lines, we are trying to better ourselves, without looking what is going on elsewhere.

"The team worked well tonight against a tough, experienced rival – a very difficult rival. It's not easy to go behind and then turn the score around. We're happy with the work the team put in. Effort is the only way we know."