
MADRID (AFP) - Alvaro Morata's first-half double fired 10-man Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 victory at Real Sociedad on Sunday (March 3) as Diego Simeone's men kept their slim La Liga title hopes alive.
The Spain international striker scored twice in three first-half minutes as Atletico cut the gap to leaders Barcelona back to seven points after the reigning champions' 1-0 Clasico win over third-placed Real Madrid on Saturday.
Midfielder Koke was dismissed just after the hour mark, but Atletico have now won three straight league games after back-to-back defeats by Real Betis and Real Madrid last month had ended an 18-match unbeaten run.
After a slow start to the contest, Morata gave Atletico the lead on the half-hour mark by nodding home after Thomas Lemar's corner was flicked on by Diego Godin.
The 26-year-old, who went four games without a goal after joining on loan from Chelsea in January, made it three in two matches shortly afterwards, having opened his Atletico account last weekend against Villarreal.
Once again it was a set-piece that did the damage, as Morata climbed highest to meet Koke's right-wing free-kick with a downward header into the bottom corner.
Sandro Ramirez nodded over as Sociedad started the second half strongly, and the hosts were given renewed hope when Koke was sent off for a second yellow card in the 62nd minute.
Mikel Merino came close to halving the deficit with 14 minutes remaining as away goalkeeper Jan Oblak had to produce a fine save to prevent his header from finding the top corner.
But Atletico closed out the win to move five points clear of city rivals Real, and more importantly, remain in with a chance of lifting a first major trophy since winning the league title in 2014.
Getafe boost Champions League bidÂ
Earlier on Sunday, little Getafe gave their hopes of qualifying for a maiden Champions League campaign a massive boost with a 2-1 victory at fellow European hopefuls Real Betis.
Pepe Bordalas' side, who have twice played in the Europa League before, now sit two points clear of Alaves in fourth place in La Liga, with another seven sides within nine points of the last Champions League spot.
Real Betis remain seventh, but six points adrift of Getafe.
Uruguayan defender Leandro Cabrera gave Getafe a 20th-minute lead by nodding in Francisco Portillo's corner, before Jaime Mata slotted in a second on the stroke of half-time.
Former Spain winger Joaquin, 37, gave Betis hope with a powerful drive 15 minutes from time, but the home side slipped to a second damaging defeat in three days after their Copa del Rey semi-final loss to Valencia.

Emery believes Klopp's continued progress at Anfield is an example for Arsenal to follow in the near-future. "This team three seasons ago, they were playing in the final of the Europa League," Emery said. "Their development was to last season play the final in the Champions League.
Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Europa League clash against

Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for Saturday's all-English Champions League final, and use a drone for the first time to monitor fan activity.
Football: Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English

Entrepreneur Insider is your all-access pass to the skills, experts, and network you need to get your business off the ground—or take it to the next level. Join Now Are you paying too much for

My buddies and I are big college football fans, and we love traveling to new places for games. We're working on a blog that gives tips to other football fans when they travel to away stadiums for games. I'm trying to review all the Big Ten schools, and I was hoping you'd indulge me on some questions about Penn State football games.
National Football Development Plan

Birmingham have been docked nine points after breaching financial rules, the EFL has announced. Birmingham hit with nine-point deduction a five-year football banning order after being
Birmingham City deducted nine points by EFL for financial

Watford brought West Ham United's streak of Premier League success to an abrupt halt with a surprise 2-0 win at the London Stadium on Saturday thanks to a first-half Troy Deeney penalty and a
Deeney and Deulofeu seal Watford win over West Ham and raise

Football: Kante strike the difference as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 (REUTERS) - Chelsea kept up their pursuit of the Premier League's top three clubs with a 1-0 win away to London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday (Dec 30), thanks to a strike by N'Golo Kante early in the second half.
N'Golo Kante scores as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace

Top 10 Greatest Comebacks In Football History - YouTube

Football: Silverware matters most to Emery as Arsenal aim to

Football news - Huddersfield end losing run with 0-0 draw at Cardiff Bottom club Huddersfield Town ended their eight-match losing streak in the Premier League with a goalless draw at fellow
Football: Huddersfield end losing run with 0-0 draw at Cardiff

Zainudin bin Nordin is Member of the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency at Parliament of Singapore. View Zainudin bin Nordin's professional profile on Relationship Science, the database of decision makers.
Kayveas claims Deputy Sec Gen Simon Sabapathy was lying, and

Home Manchester United Lukaku agent supports Man United's huge transfer been unfathomably targeted as United look to rebuild after Jose Mourinho United pair after taking Inter job.
Manchester United's transfer policy: A quick fix or time to

March 30 (Reuters) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated his first game as permanent Manchester United manager with a 2-1 Premier League win over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday. It was a far from
Rashford and Martial give United win over Watford
adtest.supersport.com/football/premier-league/news/190330/Rashford_and_Martial_give_United_win_over_Watford
It was the ninth goal during Solskjaer's reign for Rashford, who has blossomed in the last three months, and has replaced Romelu Lukaku as United's main man up front. Foster, once of United, has been Watford's best player this season, and he underlined why with a brilliant instinctive save to deny Martial from close range as United threatened
Man Utd - Watford 2-1 Rashford & Martial goals give Ole win

'French Open sucks compared to Wimbledon sucks': Nick Kyrgios courts controversy once again as he takes swipe at Roland Garros before practice session with Andy Murray.
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen