( CNN ) -- Atletico Madrid paid emotional tribute to former player and coach Luis Aragones Sunday before sweeping to the top of La Liga with a style of football which would have made him proud . Following the 4-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Vicente Calderon stadium , the club 's official website simply posted : Leaders : This if for you Luis . The victory saw them overtake Barcelona at the top of the standings -- the first time they had achieved the feat since the double-winning season of 1995-96 . But it was all about Aragones , who died aged 75 Saturday . He spent the majority of his football career with Atletico and is still the club 's leading scorer , claiming La Liga titles both as a player and coach . Aragones capped his achievements by coaching Spain to the 2008 European Championship , the start of their domination of world football . Giant banners were unfurled in the Atletico stadium in his honor and tributes were observed before all the matches in the La Liga program . Aragones donned the number eight shirt for the team and home fans waited until the eighth minute of the match before chanting his name . It was entirely fitting that it was David Villa , the competition 's top scorer when Aragones led Spain to Euro 2008 glory , who opened the scoring against Basque side Sociedad when he swept home Diego Costa 's low cross . The sought after Costa doubled Atletico 's advantage with a typical finish before Miranda headed home the third . Diego Ribas rounded off a glorious evening for Atletico -- who are also into the last 16 of the Champions League -- with a shot into the roof of the visiting net . Sociedad were playing their first match since Thursday 's bizarre Copa del Rey clash with Racing Santander , whose players staged on an on-pitch strike in protest at unpaid wages . They held their own for much of the match after Villa 's 12th of the season just before the break , but a late flurry by Atletico sealed the win to take them three points clear of Barca , who suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat to Valencia Saturday . Atletico manager Diego Simeone said he was proud of his team and their fans . `` When someone like Luis leaves us there is pain and sadness , but today the fans , the game and that silence for the first eight minutes before they sang his name moved me , '' he told AFP . `` From above he would be wearing red and white and happy with the bravery we showed . '' Real Madrid missed the chance to move within a point of their city rivals when held to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao later Sunday and suffered an even bigger setback as Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off . Ronaldo set up Jese for Real 's second half opener before Ibai Gomez equalized for the impressive hosts . Ronaldo was then dismissed after a tussle with home defender Carlos Gurpegi to leave his depleted team to hold on a for a point in the final few minutes .
Atletico Madrid top La Liga after 4-0 home win over Real Sociedad . Tributes paid to Luis Aragones before the match in Vicente Calderon . Aragones is a former Atletico player and coach . Cristiano Ronaldo sent off as Real Madrid held by Athletic Bilbao .