A second-half goal from Koke gave off-colour Atlético Madrid a 1-0 win over Málaga to send them top of La Liga on Saturday. With Barcelona not restarting their season until Sunday after the Christmas interlude, Atlético took advantage to move three points clear of Barça.
Atlético lacked a cutting edge against a well-marshalled Málaga defence with the league’s top scorer, Diego Costa, having a subdued match. Koke finally made the breakthrough, slotting the ball home after Willy Caballeros saved from Adrián López.
Atlético now have 49 points from 18 games although Barcelona will return to the top with victory at home against Elche. Real Madrid, who are eight points adrift, face Celta Vigo on Monday.
Málaga played five men in defence and the tactic succeeded in stifling Atlético’s attacking thrust with Costa and David Villa struggling to get into the game and youngster Óliver Torres, given a chance on the left, failing to unsettle Málaga.
López and Rodríguez were both brought on to add pace to the Atlético attack and with the match starting to open up, Koke struck. López’s close-range shot was blocked by Caballeros and Koke put the ball into an open goal.
*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGF0LdcmPEoOdxEuxRFeAbyq49rIw&url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/04/malaga-atletico-madrid-la-liga
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