The World Cup break supplied a much-needed respite for Atletico Madrid, who subsequently ended their three-game winless streak within the Spanish league with a 2-0 conquer bottom-placed Elche on Thursday of their first match again after the worldwide break.
Joao Felix and Alvaro Morata scored second-half targets for Atletico, which moved again into the Champions League locations with the victory on the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
“The group had an excellent angle. It was an excellent match. We should maintain working to maintain enhancing going ahead,” stated Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
Atletico went into the World Cup break with a victory towards fifth tier AlmazAn within the first spherical of the Copa del Rey, however Simeone’s group had not gained in 5 straight matches in all competitions earlier than that, together with two in a row within the group stage of the Champions League, which left it and not using a place in any European competitors for the remainder of the season.
Atletico had additionally overwhelmed fourth tier Arenteiro within the second spherical of the Copa del Rey after the World Cup.
Felix opened the scoring with a header within the 56th minute and Morata added to the lead within the 74th with a shot that bounced off a defender and over the goalkeeper. Morata went to the bottom after the shot and solely came upon he was the one who scored whereas celebrating together with his teammates. “I believed it was (Antoine) Griezmann who had scored off the rebound. I used to be on the bottom, had no concept,” he stated.
Morata was with Spain on the World Cup, and Felix was with Portugal. Their Argentina teammates at Atletico – Angel Correa, Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo De Paul – had been honored earlier than the match towards Elche for his or her world title in Qatar. None of them performed as they rejoined the group late.
Pablo Barrios, 19, made his debut as a starter for Atletico.
Both groups performed with 10 males as Elche noticed Gonzalo Verdú despatched off simply earlier than half-time and Atletico’s Mario Hermoso acquired a purple card within the 53rd. Elche additionally misplaced Domingos Quina with a purple card within the 90th.
Elche, debuting coach Pablo Machin, remained the one winless membership after 15 league matches.
Other outcomes
Fifth place Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 at sixth-place Real Betis, whereas Girona drew 2-2 with visiting Rayo Vallecano.
Leader Barcelona hosts metropolis rival Espanyol on Saturday. Second positioned Real Madrid, two factors behind the Catalan membership, visits Real Valladolid on Friday.
