Falcao keeps 10-man Atletico perfect at home

Malaga mauled 3-0 at Real Betis

MADRID, Feb 25, (RTRS): Radamel Falcao’s penalty ensured 10-man Atletico Madrid preserved their 100 percent home record in La Liga with a 1-0 victory over resurgent Espanyol.

The Colombia striker netted his 21st goal of the campaign in the 38th minute, only to see his captain Gabi sent off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of halftime to leave Atletico with a man less for the entire second period.

Diego Simeone’s side stood firm and moved on to 56 points from 25 games in second place, 12 behind leaders Barcelona who came from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 at home on Saturday.

“We played a good first half, but the second with a man less was almost better,” Argentine Simeone told a news conference. Champions Real Madrid are third with 52 points after a 2-1 comeback win at basement side Deportivo Coruna, also on Saturday.

Fourth-placed Malaga, who lost 1-0 at Porto in the Champions League last week, were well beaten 3-0 at Real Betis to stay on 42 points. Betis climbed to seventh with 39.

Simeone fielded a full-strength side at the Calderon unlike fellow King’s Cup semifinalists Barca and Real, who meet for their second leg on Tuesday and Atletico’s opponents Sevilla, who they visit on Wednesday. Atletico put the visitors under intense pressure, eventually winning a penalty when the outstanding Diego Costa was brought down in the area.

Falcao sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot and with a man less following Gabi’s sending-off the hosts outwitted Espanyol in the second half to make it 13 league wins from 13 at the Calderon this season. Javier Aguirre’s visitors, 13th with 31 points, slipped to only their second defeat in 12 outings since the Mexican took the helm from Mauricio Pochettino with the side bottom in late November.

Germain 26 16 6 4 49 16 54 Lyon 26 15 6 5 46 25 51 Marseille 26 14 4 8 32 31 46 Nice 26 12 9 5 39 28 45 St Etienne 26 12 8 6 40 19 44 Montpellier HSC 26 12 5 9 41 32 41 Stade Rennes 26 12 5 9 39 34 41 Lille 26 10 10 6 35 26 40 FC Lorient 26 10 9 7 42 42 3 Independiente’s Juan Caicedo, from Colombia (right) is challenged by Racing Club’s Mario Bolatti during an Argentina’s league soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Feb 24. (AP)