Atletico, Sevilla go joint top with Barca
Atletico Madrid beat Alaves 3-0 at the Metropolitano yesterday to move level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Sevilla later drew with Valencia meaning they also join Atletico and Barcelona tied at the top on 28 points.
Barcelona can go clear later Saturday when they face Espanyol away. Atletico’s Nicola Kalinic broke the deadlock on 25 minutes from Arias’ cross, scoring his first league goal for the club.
Alaves’ substitute Borja Baston had chances to get his team back in the game after the break but the visitors could not beat Jan Oblak. And on 82 minutes Antoine Griezmann raced clear to make it 2-0.
Rodrigo Hernandez scored the third from close range with three minutes remaining. “The scoreline flattered us a bit, Alaves played very well,” said Atletico defender Jose Gimenez.
It then seemed Sevilla would go temporarily clear at the top with a win over Valencia. Pablo Sarabia put them ahead on 55 minutes turning in on Wissam Ben Yedder’s shot. But Mouctar Diakhaby headed in Dani Parejo’s free-kick on 92 minutes to draw Valencia level. Sarabia reflected on the last attack costing his team two points. The scorer of Sevilla’s goal said: “We were focused except in the very last piece of play.”
SPANISH LA LIGA RESULTS
Atletico Madrid 3 (Kalinic 25, Griezmann 82, Rodrigo 87) Alaves 0; Valencia 1 (Diakhaby 90+2) Sevilla 1 (Sarabia 55)
Playing today: Eibar v Levante (1100 GMT), Huesca v Real Madrid (1515), Real Sociedad v Real Valladolid (1730), Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano (1945)
On Monday: Athletic Bilbao v Girona (2000)
Played Friday: Leganes 1 (Nyom 64) Getafe 1 (Cabrera 39)