The race for Champions League qualification in La Liga appears tighter than ever after Atletico Madrid moved above Real Sociedad and into fourth place thanks to a 3-0 home win over Valencia on Sunday.
Antoine Griezmann gave the hosts the lead in the 10th minute at Vicente Calderon, finishing well from just inside the box after good approach play from Koke to score his 55th goal in 100 league games for Atleti.
Sloppy play had allowed Valencia to gain a foothold in the game but Diego Simeone’s men doubled their lead three minutes after the interval when Kevin Gameiro’s shot deflected in off the unlucky Eliaquim Mangala.
The result was never in doubt thereafter, with Griezmann seizing on indecision from the Valencia backline in the 83rd minute to claim his second and Atleti’s third, steering home what was the 350th goal Atleti have scored under Simeone in La Liga.
Fan favourite Fernando Torres was well enough to watch his side from the directors’ box after suffering a sickening head injury in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Deportivo La Coruna.
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