Teye Partey winner sends Atletico Madrid top of La Liga

Thomas Teye Partey was the hero for Atletico Madrid on Saturday night after the 22 year old Ghanaian midfielder came off the bench to score the goal that not only won the capital side victory but also took them top of the Spanish La Liga standings.

Atletico have now overtaken defending champions and hitherto leaders, Barcelona atop the Spanish top table by two points on 41 to their rivals' 39 with Real Madrid a further 3 points back ahead of their match day 18 tie at Valencia on Sunday, Barca also have a game in hand though.

And Atletico's ascendancy to top spot in La Liga was all due to Teye Partey's 81st minute striker after only coming on as a substitute on 73 minutes.

Partey who spent last season on loan at Almeria, featured in only his 5th game and now a combined total of just 114 minutes of league football all season after winning the confidence of Coach Diego Simeone to stay full time at the Estadio Vicente Calderon having spent the previous season also on loan at Mallorca in the Spanish second tier.

But Saturday night and the very opening game of the new year and the Ghanaian wasted no time in reminding all at the Madrid club of his qualities with the goal that sent them top of the league following Barcelona's goalless draw in the Catalan derby against Espanyol.

With time running out, Partey picked the ball on the edge of the penalty box and danced his way through the Levante defence to slot home his first ever Atletico Madrid senior goal which proved decisive.

Atletico who are chasing a 2nd league title in 3 seasons, next travel to face Madrid rivals, Rayo Vallencano on Wednesday when La Liga return with the match day 19 fixtures.

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