Diego Simeone Admits Title Race Is Open After Loss To Bilbao

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone admitted that La Liga's title race is wide open, with the mentally strong to win the trophy after a knife-edge game at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Atletico seemed to be getting back on track in their collapsing title bid with consecutive wins over Eibar and Huesca but were outplayed by Athletic for most of the game, falling behind to an Alex Berenguer diving header.

Stefan Savic leveled with a header from a corner, only for Athletic to regain the lead late on with a thumping header from Inigo Martinez.

READ ALSO: La Liga: Atleti Slips Again As Barca, Madrid Trail Closer

"People ask me what the most important factor will be and it's obvious to me that it will be the mental factor," Simeone told reporters after the second defeat in five league games.

"We did not play the way we wanted to in the first half, it was totally different in the second, and the team that manages that emotional balance the best will have the best chance of winning the title."

Atletico were 10 points clear at the top in January with a game in hand but a poor run of form has seen their lead reduced to two points and Barcelona will knock them off the top if they beat visiting Granada on Thursday at the Camp Nou.

READ ALSO: Barca Gives Real Chase To Atleti With 6-1 Riot At Sociedad

Real Madrid are also only two points behind Atletico while Sevilla are three back in a thrilling four-way tilt, making the Spanish title race the most compelling in Europe's top five leagues.

Simeone did not dwell on how his side had thrown away their sizeable advantage and emphasised that they would claim the league title if they won their remaining five games.

If at the end of the season, Atleti could not win the league it would be one of the biggest bottlings in European football and Simeone would go through some criticisms.

They visit Elche next before a crunch visit to Barca, then host Real Sociedad and Osasuna before a trip to Real Valladolid.

"Real and Barca are used to winning the title. We had a big lead this year but we knew Real and Barca were not going to surrender. Now Sevilla are playing very well and we have a very exciting situation," said Simeone.

"We still depend on ourselves and with five games to go that's crucial. It will all come down to how mentally strong we are and how determined we are in those five games."