Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said his team remained in control of their own fate after Fernando Torres scored but Diego Godin was injured in their 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao that kept up the pressure on Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Torres headed Antoine Griezmann's cross into the net shortly before half-time for the only goal of an evenly-contested game at San Mames, keeping Atletico level on points with Barca though still behind on head-to-head record with just four games remaining.
Less positive on the night for Atletico was a hamstring injury for key defender Godin, who limped out of the game after suffering the injury during the opening stages, and now looks a major doubt for next Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first leg against Bayern Munich.
The Colchoneros coach told his postmatch news conference that although it was possible Barca could win all their remaining games, his team could only focus on their own work.
"I will repeat what I said yesterday -- we still depend on ourselves," Simeone said. "Our objective is to do the maximum and whatever Barcelona do, good for them. Our only option is to win our games."
Torres, now 32, has now scored in five straight matches for Atletico -- a better record than he managed even during his salad days as a Liverpool player during his mid-20s. Given his current run of form, the forward looks more and more likely now to earn a new contract with the Calderon club this summer.
"[Torres] is going through a very big moment," Simeone said. "He helps the team to keep competing. It was a great move, he scored a good goal, with a superb header. That strengthens him and the team for all that is coming he said."
Godin left the action early with what the club confirmed via Twitter was a hamstring injury, and the Uruguay international is to have tests upon his return to Madrid. Simeone would not comment on the seriousness of the injury.
With Atletico's other regular centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez also currently sidelined, back-up pairing Stefan Savic and home grown youngster Lucas Hernandez were helped by a hard-working team performance which comfortably dealt with a Los Leones attack missing injured top scorer Aritz Aduriz.
"We made a great effort against a very tough opponent in a spectacular stadium," Simeone said. "You cannot get this result without this general effort. We defended well."
Simeone said regardless of how the domestic season now ended, his team have had an excellent season as they gained more points than when finishing third last year.
"The dressing room is content," Simeone said. "We have bettered our numbers from last season, with four games left, which is an important step. We face tough competition among ourselves. We want to get better all the time. That makes us very happy."