atletico close in on title
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

As late show downs Elche

Atletico close in on title

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Atletico close in on title

Atletico Madrid's forward Diego Costa
Madrid - Arab Today

Atletico Madrid's forward Diego Costa Madrid - Arab Today Atletico Madrid took another step towards their first La Liga title for 18 years as two goals in the last 20 minutes handed them a 2-0 win over Elche at the Vicente Calderon on Friday. After a poor opening period from the hosts, they wasted a great chance to go in front 10 minutes after the break as David Villa's penalty was saved by Manu Herrera. The league leaders did eventually make the breakthrough 19 minutes from time when Miranda headed home Jose Sosa's cross and Diego Costa converted a second Atletico penalty of the night late on after Christian Sapunaru was sent-off for Elche. Victory moves Atletico six points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table and within three wins of sealing the title. Los Rojiblancos' attention now turns to facing Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. "The players put in a great effort and now we have to recover as best we can for the game on Tuesday," said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. "It is a very important game for the club, the fans and the history of Atletico Madrid." However, there remains some doubt as to whether one of Atletico's key men, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, will be able to face his parent club. The Belgian international was in fine form once more on Friday as he made two crucial first-half saves from Javi Marquez and Sapunaru to keep Atletico level at the break. And Simeone is confident Courtois will be free to play after UEFA ruled a clause in his loan agreement that would force Atletico to pay an extra fee to field him ineligible. "In principle he will play. Until the president or directors come to tell me that he can't, we will assume he can play." In contrast to their recent displays at home, Atletico were very slow out of the blocks and didn't really get going until Raul Garcia replaced Adrian Lopez at half-time. Garcia made an instant impact as he was dragged down inside the area by Sapunaru. David Villa assumed the penalty taking duties after Costa had missed against Getafe last week, however the Spanish international was also denied as Manu Herrera sprung to his left to turn the ball behind. Villa then had a goal rightly ruled out for offside and Garcia headed just over as the pressure began to build from Atletico. And the goal finally arrived when Sosa's corner was met by a brilliant header from Miranda to sent the ball back across goal into the corner of the net. Costa had a great chance to kill the game off as he raced onto a fine through ball from Diego Ribas two minutes from time, but Herrera made a fine low save with his legs. Two minutes later, though, Costa was bearing down on goal again when Sapunaru bundled him over and was shown a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Costa dusted himself down and rolled home the penalty to register his 35th goal of the season and sent Atletico into the Chelsea clash in high spirits. Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

atletico close in on title atletico close in on title

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

atletico close in on title atletico close in on title

 



GMT 23:24 2017 Tuesday ,24 January

Mofida Shiha prefers social TV programs to politics

GMT 21:23 2017 Sunday ,13 August

Fierce clashes between Daesh, SDF in Raqqah

GMT 19:31 2017 Monday ,16 October

Azhar Imam, Mufti to inaugurate international Fatwa

GMT 18:33 2017 Tuesday ,28 March

S. Korea Preparing for N. Korean ICBM Launch

GMT 23:39 2017 Tuesday ,19 September

Iran recruits Afghans, Pakistanis to fight in Syria

GMT 03:51 2017 Saturday ,11 November

'Lazarus' Daly says recovery no miracle

GMT 13:30 2017 Friday ,17 February

Four killed in Kashmir Gun battle

GMT 18:51 2017 Friday ,17 November

FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain weekend starts
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday