Muscat Daily

Hobbling Atletico reclaim top spot

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Madrid, Spain - Atletico Madrid moved back to the top of La Liga on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Real Betis opened a one-point lead over city rivals Real Madrid.

Despite missing 19-goal striker Luis Suarez, Atletico were in front after just five minutes when Belgian internatio­nal Yannick Carrasco scored into an empty net after a goal-mouth scramble. However, Betis, who are in sixth place in the table and chasing European football next season, levelled just 15 minutes later.

Cristian Tello was on hand to score from just inside the box from a cross by Alex Moreno.

On Saturday, Real Madrid had taken top spot with a 2-1 El Clasico win over Barcelona.

That was the first time Atletico had been knocked off the top since December when they went on to mount a run that saw them go ten points clear with a game in hand at the start of February. Barcelona are third, a point further back on 65 points.

Both goalkeeper­s played crucial roles in ensuring Atletico and Betis shared the points on Sunday.

OTHER RESULTS

Sunday: Valladolid 1 Granada 2.

FRENCH LEAGUE

Lyon triumph

Paris, France - Lyon kept alive their title hopes with a 3-0 victory at home to Angers in the French League on Sunday.

Lyon snapped a three-game winless league run as captain Memphis Depay scored two goals. Lyon, who will meet Monaco in the quarterfin­als of the French Cup later this month, took the lead on 21 minutes as Depay lashed in a rebound after

Lucas Paqueta hit the post from close range.

Paqueta added a second late in the first half when he slotted in Karl Toko Ekambi's cross. The Brazilian set up Depay to net Lyon's third just before the end, the Dutchman scooping the ball over Angers goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni from the edge of the box.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal win

London, UK - Gabriel Martinelli scored in his first start since January as Arsenal ended a run of four games without a win with a 3-0 victory over the Premier League's bottom club Sheffield United.

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice either side of Martinelli's goal. Victory is too little, too late for the ninth-placed Gunners chances of a top-four finish as they are still ten points behind West Ham.

Arsenal's season now hinges on success in the Europa League and they suffered an injury blow ahead of Thursday's quarterfin­al, second leg against Slavia Prague as Bukayo Saka limped off with a thigh injury.

OTHER RESULTS

ITALIAN LEAGUE

Sunday: Roma 1 Bologna 0, Fiorentina 2 Atalanta 3.

GERMAN LEAGUE

Sunday: Cologne 2 Mainz 3.

 ??  ?? Action from the Spanish League match between Atletico Madrid and Real Betis on Sunday
Action from the Spanish League match between Atletico Madrid and Real Betis on Sunday

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