Gallagher sends Simeone wild with incredible last minute Atletico Madrid heroics

The former Chelsea midfielder was a second-half substitute in their 1-0 LaLiga win at home to Athletic Bilbao.

Midway through stoppage time, Bilbao had the ball deep in their own half and were slowly starting to push forward for a late equaliser.

However, Gallagher launched into a full sprint and chased down an over-hit pass before snuffing out the danger with a tackle.

Bilbao regained possession but the 25-year-old kept pressing and made another strong challenge to knock the ball out of play.

Atletico fans in the stands at the Estadio Metropolitano rose to their feet and loudly cheered in appreciation of his workrate.

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Gallagher's manager Simeone may have celebrated the most out of anyone inside the stadium though as his side closed in on victory.

The Argentine boss jumped and threw his hands into the air on the touchline in a response you'd expect from a last-minute winner.

Just moments later, the full-time whistle blew and Atletico sealed the win that has them sitting first in LaLiga, ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Julian Alvarez was the sole goalscorer in the 66th minute with a low finish into the bottom corner, his 21st goal of the season.

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However, Gallagher certainly deserves the same plaudits following his crucial tackles so late on in the match.

The England international has made 33 appearances for Atletico in all competitions since his £33million move from Chelsea last summer.

Although he isn't a regular starter, he has still featured in all but five of their 26 league matches this season.

Atletico's victory on Saturday night has offered a huge boost to their title hopes four years since they last lifted the Spanish title.

After the game Simeone, who saw his opponents hit the woodwork three times was left thanking a higher power.

He said: "First of all: huge thanks to the players. They are doing an extraordinary job, competing in the best way not only those who start, but also those who come off the bench and especially those who do not enter and are aware of everything that may happen to the team.

"We came out of a very good pressure in our half, we did not finish solving in the last meters the space they generated on the left or on the right with Giuliano thanks to the individual overflow.

"And we entered a time where they were better, the game was split, we lost it, they counter-attacked and they are very good there.

"They had gone 16 games without losing and in the second half the goddess of luck on the crossbar and the goddess of luck of having Julian with us."

Simeone's side are two points clear of Barcelona, who play their game in hand against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon.

They also hold a two-point lead over city rivals Real Madrid after they were beaten 2-1 by Real Betis.