Oman Daily Observer

Suarez puts Atletico on top

URUGUAYAN’S LATE STRIKES SEE MADRID EDGE GETAFE

- — AFP

MADRID: Luis Suarez scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat 10man Getafe 2-1 and move top of La Liga on Tuesday.

Hosts Getafe took the lead through Stefan Mitrovic on the stroke of half-time, but the game changed when Carles Alena was sent off in the 74th minute.

Reigning champions Atletico are now a point clear of city rivals Real Madrid who host Real Mallorca on Wednesday. “In the first half, we had a lack of movement, of dynamism, and the match was flat until the opponents’ goal,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. “In the second period, the match had more rhythm, more intensity, we had more efficiency in attack.”

A goalless draw with fellow unbeaten side Athletic Bilbao at the weekend saw them drop two points behind Real in the early table and Simeone’s men were far from convincing again for long stages. A limp first-half display from the visitors ended in poor fashion as Getafe’s Mitrovic headed home.

Antoine Griezmann and Suarez, who saw a header strike the crossbar, both went close to an equaliser before former Barcelona midfielder Alena gave Atletico a helping hand.

Alena, who had already been booked, was given a straight red card following a VAR review for a poor studsup challenge on Brazilian internatio­nal Matheus Cunha.

Suarez made Alena pay only four minutes later, running onto Mario Hermoso’s long pass and lashing a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

The Uruguayan completed the comeback just as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, nodding in at the back post as Getafe goalkeeper David Soria backtracke­d after initially attempting to collect Sime Vrsaljko’s cross.

 ?? — AFP ?? Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez heads the ball during the Spanish League match against Getafe CF.
— AFP Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez heads the ball during the Spanish League match against Getafe CF.

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