A day of mixed fortunes for Costa
LA LIGA Playing his first league game after his return to Atletico, the 29year old scored the winner before being red carded
MADRID: Atletico Madrid unleashed Diego Costa in La Liga on Saturday and the controversial centre-forward scored the winner before being sent off in a 2-0 home win over regional rivals Getafe.
Atletico’s transfer ban ended last week and Costa was playing his first league game since rejoining the Spanish club from Chelsea.
The 2-0 win, in which France star Antoine Griezmann set up the opener for Angel Correa on 18 minutes, lifts Atletico into second, six points behind Barcelona who play Levante on Sunday.
It also took Atletico five points clear of third placed Valencia.
Costa had been lively the whole match and received a yellow card for a foul in the 62nd minute. Five minutes later he met a low cross to put his side 2-0 up and immediately earned a second yellow for leaping into the stands to celebrate with fans.
The brooding striker looked totally perplexed by the decision but his borderline style of play may inject some much needed bite to the Atletico forward line.
“His presence gives us speed and directness. And he frightens opponents too,” said Atletico Coach Diego Simeone after the game.
“The referee was unable to consider the emotional aspect (of Costa’s behaviour), the rules are the rules,” he said.
Simeone’s side looked as hard to beat as ever -- with just eight goals conceded and one defeat in 18 league games — but they have scored only 27 with Griezmann struggling to find the net, hitting just five league goals so far.
Atletico haven’t won La Liga since Costa left for London, where he won two Pre-
fourth in the league, three points shy of third placed Valenica but have a game in hand. Zinedine Zidane’s men cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to keep the pressure on rivals Barcelona who are 14-points clear of them. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored just four times this campaign, will surely have to hit the ground running.
problems this season have cost them dearly and centre-back Serigo Ramos’ injury is not going to make it any easier as they prepare for a tough trip to Celta Vigo. Celta have scored as many goals in the league as Real this term (30) with forward Iago Aspas having netted 11 goals already. Ramos is also set to miss Real’s home game against Villareal.
from injury will surely be a boost for the defending champions with the Welshman scoring his first goal since September on Wednesday night. With Karim Benzema out injured, Bale’s return will provide Zidane with an alternative option in attack.
mier League titles in three years after rifling the Madrid club to their tenth league championship with 27 goals. Marco Asensio Cristiano Ronaldo January 27 vs Valencia (Away) April 8 vs Atletico (Home) May 6 vs Barcelona (Away) Liverpool’s Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho is on the verge of signing for La Liga leaders Barcelona in a clubrecord deal, according to Spanish media reports on Saturday. Barcelona-based daily Sport said the two clubs had struck an ‘agreement in principle’ for the Isco Lionel Messi Luis Suarez Paulinho March 4 vs Atletico (Home) April 15 vs Valencia (Home) May 6 vs Real Madrid (Home) 8:45pm, Barcelona vs Levante 1:30am (Mon), Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid
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of the La Liga table with a nine-point lead. They have conceded only seven times in the league -- the best defensive record in the Spanish league. If Barca can maintain their form, with possible additions on their way, they remain strong favourites to lift their 25th league title.
by the return of their marquee summer signing Ousmane Dembele after a hamstring injury had sidelined him for four months. The French international, who made a brief appearance in their 1-1 draw against Cetla Vigo in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night will be eager to prove his 96 million euro price tag.
of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool are growing stronger by the hour. And should Barcelona manage to bring the Brazilian midfielder to the Camp Nou this January, manager Ernesto Valverde’s already star-studded midfield will bear an even more fearsome look. Another addition could be that of centre-back Yerry Mina from Palmeiras.