Atletico Madrid were looking to continue their charge towards the La Liga title with victory over Granada tonight.
Diego Simeone's side headed into the game at the Vicente Calderon placed second in the table with 70 points from 29 matches.
The Rojiblancos regained the top spot as they got the better of Granada, thanks to a second-half goal from Diego Costa.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by minute live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the La Liga clash between Atletico Madrid and Granada at the Vicente Calderon. It promises to be a very interesting match in the Spanish capital, and you can follow all the action live as it unfolds here on page.
Heading into the match, Atletico find themselves third in the league standings with 70 points from 29 matches. That's because Barcelona are leading 3-0 against Celta Vigo at the moment, with just over 15 minutes left at Camp Nou.
If Atletico win this game, then they will go back to the top of the Primera Division table even if Real Madrid win at Sevilla. That's because the Rojiblancos have a better head-to-head record against Los Blancos.
The teamsheet has been released and I will type in the names shortly. But I can tell you now that both David Villa and Diego Costa will start for Atletico.
ATLETICO MADRID XI: Courtois; Godin, Juanfran, Insua, Miranda; Tiago, Turan, Rodriguez, Gabi; Villa, Costa
ATLETICO MADRID SUBS: Aranzubia, Alderweireld, Suarez, Koke, Garcia, Diego, Sosa
GRANADA SUBS: Karnezis, Mainz, Foulquier, Benitez, Buonanotte, Fatau, Ighalo
So Atletico coach Diego Simeone has named a very strong lineup indeed. Villa and Costa both start in attack, while Tiago, Cristian Rodriguez, Arda Turan and Gabi will provide support from midfield. The Argentine boss will also have playmaker Diego to call upon from the substitutes' bench.
Granada boss Lucas Alcaraz has adopted an attack-minded team as well, deploying Youssef El Arabi, Yacine Brahimi and Riki up front at the Calderon.
We are just under 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Calderon, so now let's take a look at what the two managers had to say ahead of tonight's game...
Let's start with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone: "The game against Granada will be difficult, complicated, because our opponents need the points and so do we. We'll need a high level of intensity to take the game the way we want. Hopefully the stadium will be full. That's the only thing that concerns me at the moment. I hope the fans understand that we need them. I invite everyone to come to the stadium and get behind the team. We need a great effort from us and from the fans."
Now, let's see what Granada coach Lucas Alcaraz had to say: "We have to go into all games with the same faith. We know there are games that are easier and games that are harder but there are no guarantees. At this point of the season we know more about teams and Atletico are top because they deserve it. We think we can make things complicated for them but we have to recognise their quality. They're a difficult team to face but we want to win. We must try to win every game. There aren't many games left and we can't pass up any of them."
Just under five minutes to kickoff now at the Vicente Calderon. The players are now coming out onto the pitch.
Meanwhile, I can confirm that Barcelona have gone to the top of the table for the next two hours at least with a 3-0 home win against Celta Vigo.
The pre-match formalities are taking place now. Kickoff almost, almost upon us.
There will be a minute's silence for the passing away of Spanish politician Adolfo Suarez.
KICKOFF And we are off, this the La Liga clash between Atletico Madrid and Granada.
Atletico on the attack right from the start, but eventually the ball goes out of play for a goal kick for the visitors. The hosts are the favourites to win tonight.
Good combination between David Villa and Diego Costa as the home side go on attack again, but they lose the ball before they can surge into the Granada penalty box.
Cristian Rodriguez is annoyed with the challenge from Allan-Romeo Nyom's challenge on the left flank, as the ball runs out of play for a goal kick. Lively start from Atletico this evening, as the visitors are on the back foot from the very first minute.
Good build-up play from Atletico, as Arda Turan, Emiliano Insua and Gabi all are involved in the attacking move, but Villa eventually loses the ball inside the Granada box when he is about to shoot. The visitors launch a counter-attack, with Yacine Brahimi galloping down the right flank and then trying to shoot on goal, but his shot is blocked.
Granada already looking like they may struggle tonight, as they are being forced to defend. The hosts know that they should take three points from this match and maintain the pressure on Barcelona and Real Madrid.
CHANCE! The first chance of the match falls to, unsurprisingly, Atletico Madrid. Francisco Juanfran is released down the right flank and from there he drills in a low cross. David Villa's clever flick is blocked and from the rebound Arda Turan hits the side-netting.
Atletico continue to hog possession and have territorial advantage. The hosts are playing with pace and are passing the ball relatively well, but they are not really testing the Granada defence, or stretching it.
CHANCE! Miranda tries an unusual yet acrobatic effort from inside the Granada box after a loose ball from over the top falls to him. However, the defender's shot goes over the Granada crossbar, but not before making Roberto make a scramble for the ball.
The spark is missing in attack for Atletico, who are looking a bit disjointed in their attacking forays at the moment. However, it is only a matter of time before they find their rhythm, as Granada are struggling to get the ball out of their own half.
Meanwhile, there has been a goal in other La Liga game going on at the moment. Real Madrid have taken the lead against Sevilla in Seville, thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in the 14th minute.
Costa goes down under a challenge from Nyom on the left wing, but the referee waves play on.
CHANCE! Arda Turan tries his luck again, but once more fails to hit the target. This time the Turkish midfielder is teed up just outside the Granada box from where he fires towards goal, but his effort goes wide.
A corner to Granada now, and with it a chance to take a shock lead at the Bernabeu. Meanwhile, in Seville, Sevilla have equalised against Real Madrid. It is 1-1 there.
Disappointing set-piece play from Granada as they fail to even trouble their hosts from the corner. Goalless it remains at the Calderon.
The Calderon crowd is in loud voice tonight as they know how important a win is. This season Atletico are looking genuine title contenders, and three points would do them a world of good.
The game has gone a bit stale in the last four or so minutes. Atletico are dominating possession, but they are struggling to really ask questions of the Granada defence or testing goalkeeper Roberto.
YELLOW CARD Brayan Angulo is shown the yellow card for a handball offence on the right flank, as he stops Gabi's pass with his left hand.
Half an hour gone at the Calderon and it is still goalless between Atletico Madrid and Granada. I have to say that the visitors have given a good account of themselves so far.
CHANCE! Granada almost take a shock lead from their second corner. Fran Rico floats in the set-piece delivery and Youssef El-Arabi heads it just wide of the far post. Alexandre Coeff was lurking there, but he could not get a touch.
Atletico create two half-chances, but fail to make the most of them. First they earn a corner which goes to waste, and then Villa is sent through on goal, but the pass is too heavy for the Spanish striker and goes out for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Granada growing in confidence, as El Arabi goes for glory from outside the box with his left foot. It was a good attempt, but not good enough to trouble Thibaut Courtois in the Atletico goal.
GOAL DISALLOWED Atletico have the ball in the Granada net, but the goal is disallowed! A free kick is floated in from the left, Diego Godin heads it back across goal and Tiago heads home, but the Uruguayan centre-back is adjudged to have committed a foul on his marker.
YELLOW CARD Alexandre Coeff is shown the yellow card for bringing down Diego Costa as he is about to get a clear run-in on the Atletico goal. Free kick to the home side.
Gabi takes the free kick from over 30 yards, but it hits the wall and goes out of play for a corner, which the home side fail to capitalise on.
YELLOW CARD Gabi is shown the yellow card for his foul on Riki. He is the third player to go into the referee's books this evening.
CHANCE! End-to-end action at the Calderon. First Diego Costa goes on a mazy run but is stopped by Coeff. Then Granada launch a counter-attack, as Yacine Brahimi forces out a save from Courtois with a ferocious drive.
YELLOW CARD Yacine Brahimi becomes the third Granada player to be shown the yellow card for a bad challenge on David Villa.
CHANCE! Wonderful chesting by Villa, who then squares a late cross to the back post, but there is no Atletico player to turn it home.
HALF TIME: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Granada
It's half time at the Vicente Calderon where Atletico Madrid and Granada have played out a goalless first half. It has been a pretty entertaining first 45 minutes in the Spanish capital dominated by the hosts, but the visitors have shown some signs of a shock in the latter stages.
Atletico were on the front foot right from the start and had chances through Arda Turan and Miranda early in the first half. However, after the half-hour mark, Granada began to go forward themselves and could have taken the lead on two separate occasions, thanks to chances created by El-Arabi.
When Atletico did have the ball in the Granada net seven minutes before half time through Tiago, it was ruled out because of a foul.
In the other La Liga match going on at the moment, Sevilla and Real Madrid are 1-1 at half time.
Atletico coach Simeone will be keen for his players to show more imagination and invention in attack in the second half. The home side have controlled possession and territory, but they have lacked that spark up front.
As for Granada, they have been very impressive. They soaked the pressure in the first 30 minutes and then started to launch counter-attacks. If they can nick a goal early in the second half, then they might fancy their chances of picking up a win tonight.
The two sets of players are now out on the pitch and the second half is about to get underway.
SUBSTITUTION Granada make a half-time change. Dimitri Foulquier replaces Brayan Angulo.
KICKOFF The second half gets underway. It is goalless between Atletico Madrid and Granada at the moment.
CHANCE! First chance of the second half falls to Granada and how! A corner is floated in by Fran Rico, but neither Murillo nor Recio can connect with it at the back post.
The visitors have started the second half well actually and are showing some real determination and intensity. Atletico are struggling to compose themselves.
CHANCE! Good save from Granada goalkeeper Roberto, who catches David Villa's header from a left-wing cross from Emiliano Insua.
CHANCE! Ferocious first-time attempt from Atletico captain Gabi with his right foot from outside the box, but it goes wide of the Granada goal.
SUBSTITUTION Atletico make their first change of the match. Cristian Rodriguez, who has been rather quiet all evening, comes off and is replaced by Jose Sosa.
The Atletico fans are in loud voice at the moment and are cheering their team on. As things stand, they will be slipping down to second in the league table, one point behind leaders Barcelona.
Atletico go on attack yet another as Arda Turan sends Diego Costa through on goal, but Alexandre Coeff turns the ball out for a corner, from which the home side fail to earn anything.
SUBSTITUTION Big change from Simeone. Turan is replaced by playmaker Diego.
CHANCE! Diego Costa almost breaks the deadlock at the Calderon as he heads a corner on goal, but Roberto makes a good save.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Granada (Diego Costa)
Who else but Diego Costa! Atletico earn their 10th corner of the evening and this time the Spanish striker makes no mistake in heading the ball past Roberto. That was his 24th La Liga goal of the season. Sensational!
Kudos to visitors Granada for defending very bravely for over 60 minutes at the Calderon, but Atletico's pressure in the last 10 minutes eventually told. As things stand, the hosts are going back to the top of the La Liga table.
We have played the first half of the second half, and it looks as if Atletico are on course to maximum points. Granada are struggling to do much creatively and there is a chance that they might ship in one or two more goals at the Calderon tonight.
Costa is sent through on goal by a long ball from inside the Atletico half, but the offside flag is up. The look on Costa's face is frightening!
SUBSTITUTION Another change for Atletico. David Villa is replaced by Raul Garcia.
Corner for Atletico, their 11th of the evening. Can they make it 2-0?
No, they cannot, but once again Diego Costa is close to getting a touch on the delivery.
SUBSTITUTION A change for Granada now, as Diego Buonanotte replaces Riki.
There is a loud roar inside the Vicente Calderon and that's because there has been a goal in the La Liga clash between Sevilla and Real Madrid. It is now 2-1 to the Sevilla.
Meanwhile, here at the Calderon, there are 15 minutes of normal time remaining and Atletico are comfortably 1-0 up against Granada.
SAVE! Brilliants save from Roberto in the Granada goal as he keeps out a brilliant long-range half-volley from Gabi, who has been sensational this evening. Probably the man of the match.
CHANCE! Atletico attack down the right flank this time and a cross is whipped in for Diego, who close-range effort is blocked. It is all Atletico now, as Granada look rather lost.
Just under 10 minutes of normal time remain in this match, and it is looking more and more likely that hosts Atletico will pick up the win.
SUBSTITUTION Alexandre Coeff is replaced by forward Odion Ighalo in an attacking change for Granada.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone is quite animated on the touchline. Not that his players are doing anything wrong at the moment, but the Argentine knows all too well the importance of not losing concentration in the final minutes of this contest.
Brilliant attitude from Costa, who picks up a pass just outside the Granada box and then surges towards the byline. There are two defenders around him, but the Spanish international striker does not care and cuts in a cross which is collected by Roberto.
Atletico have the ball in the back of net again, thanks to Costa sliding it home, but Juanfran is flagged up for offside in the build-up to the strike.
Tiago must be relieved that Ighalo cannot do much inside the Atletico box after breaking away. The Atletico midfielder loses possession and then watches the Granada substitute march towards goal, only to fail to control the ball inside the area.
CHANCE! Brilliant cross from the right flank from Diego Costa finds Raul Garcia in the centre of the Granada box, but the midfielder fails to keep his first-time right-footed attempt on target.
Three minutes of injury time have been added.
Atletico earn a corner in the first minute of injury time. They play it short and fail to do much with it.
Just one more minute before Atletico can celebrate going back to the top of the La Liga table.
In Seville, it is still Sevilla 2-1 Real Madrid...
SAVE! Thibaut Courtois makes a good save in the final minute of the game, as he comfortably catches a looping effort from Nyom.
FULL TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Granada
It's all over at the Vicente Calderon where Atletico Madrid have defeated Granada 1-0 to regain the top spot in La Liga. In what was an entertaining but largely one-sided contest, Diego Costa's second-half goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.
This means that Atletico remain top of the league table with 73 points from 30 matches, a point clear of Barcelona. Real Madrid, who went down 2-1 at Sevilla tonight, are now three points off the pace in third.
I hope that you enjoyed our live coverage of the match here on Sports Mole. Thank you very much for joining me. Have a good night. It's goodbye from me for now.
