Griezmann rescues Atletico to down 10-man Deportivo
MADRID: Antoine Griezmann was Atletico Madrid’s hero once more with the winner as last season’s Champions League finalists moved third in La Liga with a 1-0 win over 10-man Deportivo la Coruna.
Moroccan winger Faycal Fajr undid a fine opening 45 minutes for the visitors when he picked up two quick-fire yellow cards just before the break.
Atletico passed up a host of chances in the second half, but finally made the breakthrough 20 minutes from time when Griezmann tapped home his fifth goal of the season.
Diego Simeone’s men now trail leaders Real Madrid by just two points and move to within a point of Barcelona.
However, the hosts suffered a double injury blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday as Augusto Fernandez and Jose Maria Gimenez had to be replaced before half time.
Deportivo have now lost on their last 11 visits to the Vicente Calderon, but frustrated Atletico until Fajr’s moments of madness left the Galicians with an almost impossible task.
Griezmann had the hosts’ best chance of a first half disrupted by the injuries to Fernandez and Gimenez when he slotted wide from Angel Correa’s cross.
Fajr eased Atletico’s route to victory when he dived in late on Nicolas Gaitan in first-half stoppage time to leave Deportivo with 10 men.
The visitors still had a great chance to take a shock lead at the start of the second period when Lucas Hernandez headed clear from under his own crossbar with Florin Andone waiting to turn the ball home.