Alexander Sørloth came off the bench to score with a header late in the second half and give Atlético Madrid a hard-fought 1-0 win over Getafe in LaLiga on Sunday, their 11th consecutive triumph in all competitions.

Atlético are now level with Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga standings on 38 points from 17 games, ahead of Real Madrid in third on 37. Barcelona host minnows Leganes later on Sunday.

Atlético, who have won all their games since the end of October, had to dig deep to break the deadlock and the winner came in the 69th minute through the combined efforts of two substitutes.

Full-back Nahuel Molina's long cross from the right byline found the unmarked Sørloth, whose header beat David Soria at the far post.

After spending the first few months of the season experimenting with different formations, Atletico coach Diego Simeone appears to have finally found the starting line-up that suits him best.

He sent out the same 11 players that beat Slovan Bratislava 3-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez up front and two four-man lines in midfield and defence, rather than the conservative five-man backline he has been known for in Madrid for more than a decade.

The hosts dominated from the outset, with winger Samuel Lino spurning two glorious chances to open the scoring in the 12th and 15th minutes, volleying in crosses from Griezmann and Rodrigo De Paul from close range.

Alvarez, De Paul and Giuliano Simeone also went close in the first half.

Lacking a spark up front, Simeone decided to bring Norwegian Sørloth off the bench after the break in place of Lino, moving Alvarez to the left wing. His side continued to press, but missed too many chances and were often exposed on the counter-attack.

However, they finally broke the deadlock when substitute Molina's fine cross found Sørloth in a superb position to give Atlético three valuable points ahead of their trip to league leaders Barcelona next Saturday.