Costa stamps his class in Atletico win
Print Edition
Diego Costa has already given Atletico Madrid a reminder of what it has missed since he left for Chelsea and the striker will be looking to breathe new life into his side’s blunt strikeforce when he is unleashed against Getafe in La Liga tomorrow.
Atletico may be second in the standings but it has badly missed Costa’s energy and determination as its forwards have all underperformed: talisman Antoine Griezmann has only scored five league goals while Kevin Gameiro and Angel Correa have struggled for consistency.
Costa needed only five minutes as a substitute against Lleida Esportiu in the Cope del Rey on Wednesday to make an impact on his return to Atletico, scoring the third goal in a 4-0 thrashing and giving his side some badly needed aggression and pace in attack. The Spain international, who rejoined the club for US$77 million, even shrugged off a bleeding shin. After taking a moment to rest on the sidelines, he was back in the thick of the action as if nothing had happened.
“In one sense Costa never left us,” said Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya. “He had a very good spell at Chelsea and I don’t think he’s changed how he is or how he plays, we expect everything of him.”
Atletico coach Diego Simeone added: “Costa generates enthusiasm. In those first five minutes he showed what he is all about and I hope he can keep it up.”
The man who enraptured the Vicente Calderon with his combative and ruthlessly effective displays is now set for his baptism at Atletico’s new home, the 68,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano, and he could hardly have hoped for more fitting opponents in his first game back in La Liga than Getafe.
Costa scored a stunning goal in a 7-0 thrashing of Getafe in 2013 during Atletico’s remarkable title winning campaign. He also scored in the 2-0 away win against the Madrid side in April 2014, banging his shin against the post in the process.
He had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher but immediately after that game Atletico coach Simeone summed up Costa attitude, saying, “He’s fine, one more scratch won’t hurt this tiger.”
Barca, which leads Atletico in the standings by nine points and is still buzzing from its impressive 3-0 win over Real Madrid before the Christmas break, hosts struggling Levante on Sunday. It will be boosted by the return of club record signing Ousmane Dembele from a long injury spell.
Champion Real Madrid is 14 points behind Barca and will look to kickstart its season away to Celta Vigo on Sunday, while Sevilla’s new coach Vincenzo Montella faces a baptism of fire in his first game in La Liga tomorrow as his side hosts fierce city rival Real Betis.
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