Four-star Atletico march atop
4 Feb 2014 6:51 AM IST
On an emotional evening at the Vicente Calderon, former players and fans paid their tributes to former Spain and Atletico player and coach Luis Aragones, who died on Saturday, before the match.
Fittingly it was David Villa, the competition’s top scorer when Aragones led Spain to the European Championships in 2008, who opened the scoring as he swept home Diego Costa’s low cross.
Costa himself doubled Atletico’s advantage with a composed finish before Miranda headed home the third. And Diego Ribas rounded off a fine evening for Atletico as he marked his debut after returning to the club on loan from Wolfsburg with a thumping finish three minutes from the end.
Following Barcelona’s shock home defeat to Valencia on Saturday, Atletico now lead the Catalans by three points, but Real Madrid can move to within a point of the leaders should they beat Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday.
After a quiet start, overshadowed by the respects paid to Aragones, Villa thought he had opened the scoring 14 minutes in, but he was rightly flagged for offside. Sociedad were unlucky not to have a penalty moments later when Miranda was adjudged to have brought down Antoine Griezmann inches outside the area by referee Javier Estrada Fernandez.
David Zuruztuza then stung the palms of Atleti keeper Thibaut Courtois, whilst at the other end Costa blazed wildly over when well-positioned 20 yards out. The hosts went in front seven minutes before the break when Villa finished off a fine team move for his 12th goal of the season.
Villa’s joy didn’t last long, though, as he had to be substituted just two minutes later after pulling up with a muscular injury. Sociedad enjoyed the majority of possession after the break as Atletico decided to sit on their lead, but the Basque side failed to seriously test Courtois.
The home fans then gave Diego a heroes welcome as he replaced Jose Sosa. Costa made sure of the three points 18 minutes from time when he coolly slotted Raul Garcia’s through ball into the far corner.Atletico struck again just two minutes later as Miranda rose highest to power home Koke’s corner.And Diego rounded off the scoring when he showed great poise inside the Sociedad box before blasting high into the roof of the net.
‘Real Sociedad made it difficult without creating great chances,’ said Argentine Simeone, whose side scored three.
Ronaldo sees red, Real held 1-1
MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo was sent-off as Real Madrid lost ground in the La Liga title race with a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
The draw moves Real level with Barcelona, who suffered a shock defeat at home to Valencia on Saturday, three points behind Atletico.
It could have been so much better for Madrid as after a difficult opening 45 minutes, Jese Rodriguez looked to have them on the road to a 11th consecutive victory when he prodded home Ronaldo’s cross 25 minutes from time.
However, after Ibai Gomez had spectacularly equalised, Ronaldo was shown a soft red card for lashing out at Carlos Gurpegi. And in the end Madrid were grateful to goalkeeper Diego Lopez for salvaging a point as he made lave saves from Gomez and Aritz Aduriz.
Ancelotti unhappy at CR7 red card
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti accused Athletic Bilbao’s Carlos Gurpegi of exaggerated theatrics in the action that led to Cristiano Ronaldo’s sending off in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Ronaldo is now likely to be banned for another crucial league encounter against Villarreal next weekend and Ancelotti wasn’t convinced his star man deserved to see red.’I think it is difficult for me to judge because I wasn’t there, but the images show that it was an exaggerated reaction,’ said he. Marcelo was stronger in his criticism of the decision.’It is hard when you lose a player in an unjust manner. It is obvious that the decision wasn’t fair and that made it very difficult, although our intention is to win every game,’ he said.’Athletic are a very good team, but we had bad luck today for sure.’
Fittingly it was David Villa, the competition’s top scorer when Aragones led Spain to the European Championships in 2008, who opened the scoring as he swept home Diego Costa’s low cross.
Costa himself doubled Atletico’s advantage with a composed finish before Miranda headed home the third. And Diego Ribas rounded off a fine evening for Atletico as he marked his debut after returning to the club on loan from Wolfsburg with a thumping finish three minutes from the end.
Following Barcelona’s shock home defeat to Valencia on Saturday, Atletico now lead the Catalans by three points, but Real Madrid can move to within a point of the leaders should they beat Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday.
After a quiet start, overshadowed by the respects paid to Aragones, Villa thought he had opened the scoring 14 minutes in, but he was rightly flagged for offside. Sociedad were unlucky not to have a penalty moments later when Miranda was adjudged to have brought down Antoine Griezmann inches outside the area by referee Javier Estrada Fernandez.
David Zuruztuza then stung the palms of Atleti keeper Thibaut Courtois, whilst at the other end Costa blazed wildly over when well-positioned 20 yards out. The hosts went in front seven minutes before the break when Villa finished off a fine team move for his 12th goal of the season.
Villa’s joy didn’t last long, though, as he had to be substituted just two minutes later after pulling up with a muscular injury. Sociedad enjoyed the majority of possession after the break as Atletico decided to sit on their lead, but the Basque side failed to seriously test Courtois.
The home fans then gave Diego a heroes welcome as he replaced Jose Sosa. Costa made sure of the three points 18 minutes from time when he coolly slotted Raul Garcia’s through ball into the far corner.Atletico struck again just two minutes later as Miranda rose highest to power home Koke’s corner.And Diego rounded off the scoring when he showed great poise inside the Sociedad box before blasting high into the roof of the net.
‘Real Sociedad made it difficult without creating great chances,’ said Argentine Simeone, whose side scored three.
Ronaldo sees red, Real held 1-1
MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo was sent-off as Real Madrid lost ground in the La Liga title race with a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
The draw moves Real level with Barcelona, who suffered a shock defeat at home to Valencia on Saturday, three points behind Atletico.
It could have been so much better for Madrid as after a difficult opening 45 minutes, Jese Rodriguez looked to have them on the road to a 11th consecutive victory when he prodded home Ronaldo’s cross 25 minutes from time.
However, after Ibai Gomez had spectacularly equalised, Ronaldo was shown a soft red card for lashing out at Carlos Gurpegi. And in the end Madrid were grateful to goalkeeper Diego Lopez for salvaging a point as he made lave saves from Gomez and Aritz Aduriz.
Ancelotti unhappy at CR7 red card
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti accused Athletic Bilbao’s Carlos Gurpegi of exaggerated theatrics in the action that led to Cristiano Ronaldo’s sending off in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Ronaldo is now likely to be banned for another crucial league encounter against Villarreal next weekend and Ancelotti wasn’t convinced his star man deserved to see red.’I think it is difficult for me to judge because I wasn’t there, but the images show that it was an exaggerated reaction,’ said he. Marcelo was stronger in his criticism of the decision.’It is hard when you lose a player in an unjust manner. It is obvious that the decision wasn’t fair and that made it very difficult, although our intention is to win every game,’ he said.’Athletic are a very good team, but we had bad luck today for sure.’
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