Griezmann nets winner for Atletico
Last season’s Champions League finalists to miss Fernandez for rest of the season
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 10man Deportivo La Coruna.
However, the hosts’ victory was overshadowed by an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by midfielder Augusto Fernandez before half-time that will keep him out for much of the remainder of the season. Jose Maria Gimenez also had to be replaced in the first half with a groin injury and is set to miss Wednesday’s huge Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Moroccan winger Faycal Fajr undid a fine opening 45 minutes for the visitors on Sunday when he picked up two quickfire 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.
Atletico were the only side in Champions League action this week to play on Sunday.
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 Valencia 1 Deportivo 3 Osasuna 0 Celta Vigo
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cross. However, it took until 20 minutes from time for the goal to come as substitute Kevin Gameiro latched onto Juanfran’s pass and his low cross was turned home by his French international teammate Griezmann.
Earlier, Valencia’s upturn under caretaker coach Voro continued as they came from behind to beat Leganes 2-1, but were grateful once more to Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Alves’s fantastic record of saving penalties. Villarreal climbed into fourth as their unbeaten start to the season continued with a comfortable 3-1 win Osasuna thanks to first-half goals from Alexandre Pato, Bruno and Nicola Sansone.
And a late show from Celta Vigo moved them out of the relegation zone as Giuseppe Rossi and Pione Sisto netted in stoppage time to secure a 2-0 win at Espanyol.