Striker duo seals victory for Atletico
Print Edition
Atletico Madrid kept pace with leader Barcelona and restored its five-point lead over third-placed city rival Real when strikers Diego Costa and David Villa each scored a penalty in a 2-1 win at Granada in La Liga on Thursday.
Atletico, the Copa del Rey winner last season, has won 10 of its 11 league games this term, a record only bettered by unbeaten champion Barcelona, and its only setback was last month’s 0-1 defeat at Espanyol.
Transformed into a genuine title contender by Argentine coach Diego Simeone, it has 30 points in second place, with Barcelona, which won 3-0 at Celta Vigo on Tuesday, on 31 and Real, a 7-3 winner at home to Sevilla on Wednesday, on 25.
Spain forward Villa won both of Atletico’s penalties at Granada’s Los Carmenes Stadium, La Liga top scorer Costa netting the first in the 38th minute for his 12th goal of the campaign.
Villa converted his spot kick in the 78th before Atletico fullback Felipe Luis was shown a second yellow card and sent off and Odion Jude Ighalo pulled a goal back for the home side in the first minute of added time.
“I am delighted with the effort the players are putting in,” Simeone said.
“It’s not easy to win, win, win and continue winning.”
Athletic Bilbao climbed to fifth, level on 20 points with fourth-placed Villarreal, when it came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with promoted Elche.
Getafe, one of the surprise packages of the season, closed to within a point of Villarreal and Bilbao in sixth when it won 2-0 at Villarreal.
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