ATM 1:0 GRN | Atlético Madrid - Granada CF (LaLiga)

LaLiga

Bundesliga

Barcelona – Celta Vigo

3:0 (end)

Sevilla – Real

2:1 (end)

Atlético – Granada

1:0 (end)

final

Atlético Madrid

1:0 (0:0)

Granada CF

Wednesday 26.03.2014, 22:00 • Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid • LaLiga

		Match stats: Shots (on goal): ATM 16 (5), GRA 7 (0) Free kicks: ATM 12, GRA 19 Corners: ATM 14, GRA 4 Offsides: ATM 7, GRA 0 Fouls: ATM 12, GRA 12 Yellow cards: ATM 1, GRA 3 Possession: ATM 48%, GRA 52%. (23:57:38)
		Real have lost in Sevilla, which leaves Atletico alone at the peak with 73, Barcelona follow with 72 and Real now trail after suffering two losses in a row in third place at 70 points.
		Atletico continue unbeaten run at Vicente Calderón and again, with three new points, take the peak of the table. Currently they have 73 which puts them ahead of Barca and Real, but Real still play in Sevilla, currently trailing 2-1. Diego Costa heads the lone tally home in the 63rd minute which sets Atletico on track.
	90+3	Game over.
	90+3	The referee stops play after Murillo tackled Costa at the halfway line sliding in but Granada's defender is the one lying down.
	90+2	Atletico still haven't won a single home match in this season's campaign.
	90+1	Corner from the left taken short as Sosa wants to keep possession and kill time and gets pressured by the defense. After the clearance to the midfield they get the ball back to Atletico.
	90	Three minutes of stopagge time added on.
	89	Diego Costa will be disappointed to see Raúl García ruin his massive solo effort over the right, and after sending a low cross from a severe angle, García sends the ball spinning to take the shot from the penalty spot into the second deck of the stands.
	89	They get just that now over the left, but Ighalo can't beat the defense and send the cross from the left in, but rather the ball gets out for the goal kick.
	88	As the game approaches its end Atletico want to put more pressure on Granada so they don't get on the attack and thus not jeopardize their lead.
	87	Diego falls inside the penalty area after colliding with the defender, the referee says play on!
	84	Diego Costa finds some space between the two defenders in the box but darts past them getting the ball to much into space and close to the goal line so can't snap it without a slide, thus creating a inaccurate pass only for the keeper.
	83	The ball mainly in midfield with occasionaly pressure from Atletico trying to get something, while we haven't seen Granada down the pitch for quite some time now.
	82	Jubilant atmosphere here at the Vicente Calderón as they announce Sevilla took the lead over Real Madrid 2-1!
	81	Granada CF substitution: Coeff is replaced by Ighalo.
	81	Corner kick from the right sent floating in, though nothing comes out of it as the defese clear the danger.
	79	Diego Costa can't find the way to the net after a nice through pass from Gabi into the right edge of the box.
	76	Sosa has a go from the edge of the area on the volley towards the left post, Roberto is ready for it and dives to the side to catch the shot.
	74	Granada CF substitution: Riki is replaced by Buonanotte.
	73	Juanfran wins the corner kick now that gets sent powerfully in from the right, but Sosa can't steer it in from the left.
	72	Throw in from the right for Atletico in the end as they lead the offense that way, but the sliding tackle is clear on the ball.
	70	Atlético Madrid substitution: Villa is replaced by Raúl García.
	70	Tiago slides in the tackle on El-Arabi who leads the attack in midfield and dribbles him out, but the tackle was on the ball first and all clear.
	69	Tough to say who is better lately, both teams looking to add some spice to the game, though neither can get serious in the opponent's half.
	67	Granada with the free kick from midfield, but play it safe and short, then all the way back to Roberto who seeks El-Arabi with a long cross. Can't find him properly.
	65	Granada looking for the equaliser as Brahimi gets into the penalty are over the left flank, falls down after the tackle but it wasn't harsh enough to award the penalty.
	63	Goal for Altético! On the repeated effort from the corner again from the right hand side, DIEGO COSTA this time gets left in the middle of the box again and this time tuck in the header into the right side.
	61	Corner taken perfectly to the edge of the five-metre area for cutting Diego Costa whose header strike directly into Roberto, who apart from having some problems handling the ball, in the end safely gets it.
	61	Juanfran sprints into counter on the right, from a sharp angle tries to chip the cross in, and the corner comes out of it in the end.
	60	Atlético Madrid substitution: Turan is replaced by Diego.
	59	Corner by Atletico taken short before they could send the cross in for Costa, he heads it wide to the right facing the target backwards and the goal kick will come for Roberto.
	59	Brahimi leads the counter on the left but can't surpass his marker and the ball is put into touch.
	56	Atlético Madrid substitution: Rodríguez is replaced by Sosa.
	55	Costa tries his luck from long range only to see his volley wide to the left.
	54	The corner taken in quickly and sent floating to the far post, only for Roberto to punch it high in the air and away from danger.
	53	Costa runs on the left wing trying to beat Iturra who covers tightly, and wins the conrer in the end.
	51	A sliding tackle on Villa sees him fall down with a painful grimace, hopefully he'll soon shake it off and continue playing without any problems.
	49	Rodríguez gets closed efficiently on the left edge of the box as Atletico march into the final third of Granada, though the defense make sure they don't cause any problems.
	48	Corner kick for Granada from the left sent floating in slowly and high, Recio cuts in on the right but as the ball falls down to the ground can't direct it in. He's only got himself to blame, it could have easily been 1-0!
	47	Granada win the free kick in midfield after dangerous play by Atletico.
	46	Start of 2nd half.
	46	Granada CF substitution: Angulo is replaced by Foulquier.
		It's still goalless at the break, but this game is interestingly poised for the second period of 45 minutes. Both sides have had their chances, with neither goalkeeper called into action all too often. Atletico dominated the early stages, but Granada gradually grew into proceedings.
	45	1st halftime finished.
	45	Arda Turan flips the ball to Costa into space on the right edge of the box, tough Costa can't steer it into the back of the net, but rather sends it into touch on the opposite side. Poor reaction by the Brazilian.
	44	After a great counter attack and solo effort, Granada's Brahimi gets cautioned for the tackle inside Atletico's half breaking the attack.
	43	Brahimi leads a good, quick, concise counter over the left, tightens up into the middle releasing a powerful strike towards the near post which sees it go just around the left post.
	42	Diego Costa can't score on the magnificent solo effort after speeding into the zone over the right, but in the waning moments gets denied by a sliding tack and the ball ricochets off to a corner.
	41	Gabi gets cautioned as he breaks the promising attack at the halfway line.
	40	Gabi tries his luck from range, hammering a 30-yard free-kick toward goal, but it cannons into the wall and out of play for a corner. Atletico once again can't capitalise on the set piece, with Granada continuing to defend staunchly.
	39	Coeff picks up a yellow card for the away side, as the Frenchman commits a late challenge on Diego Costa. He's a lucky man, had that tackle occurred five yards further towards the Granada net, that could well have been a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
	38	The ball is in the back of the net as Atletico score! But the goal is waved off as Diego Godín had lifted over the defender holding him down so that could be the call. Godín sent the header from the right post to the opposite for Insúa who nods it in, but the whistle was blown before.
	36	El-Arabi takes it upon himself to have another effort at goal from a tight angle, but arrowing the ball out of play from 25 yards out. It was a great run, nutmegging Gabi along the way, but the Moroccan forward's finishing touch doesn't present itself.
	35	Diego Costa vanishes behind Coeff who can't watch him and track down, but he was already offside, as was David Villa and the flag is up high.
	33	A corner now on the opposite end, but despite having been takein into the penalty area for Diego Costa and he falls down after certain contact, the referee feels there were no elements for the penalty – and we'll agree with him.
	32	Corner taken from the right side for El-Arabi inside awaiting for the header that can't hit the target but rather slides wide to the left. So unlucky for the Marrocan striker.
	31	Granada win the free kick on the right wing. Riki swings it into the area close to the penalty spot, denied into corner.
	30	Iturra is down inside the box for Granada and there certainly was contact from Juanfran but not enough to convince the referee to point to the penalty spot. It was a tackle with the feet so, according to the rules, this one was fine, not too harsh.
	29	The cross delivered into the box off the right flank harsh into the five-metre box, Roberto is there to punch it to safety.
	28	Angulo (GRA) calms the ball down with his arm, it went up and the intention was clear so the yellow brandished is all right.
	27	Hand play from Gabi at the edge of the attacking penalty area with the referee close to the happenings. It wasn't intentional therefore no card, but it was called.
	26	Yet another attack from Atletico comes to nothing as Rodríguez can't put the cross high enough and send it into the penalty area.
	24	Another promising Atletico attack comes to nothing, as a through ball is cleared well by Coeff. Insua then whips a deep cross to the far post, but Angulo is able to shepherd the ball out of play. That was a poor delivery from the Argentine and Diego Costa lets him know it.
	22	Granada win the corner after a solo dribbling effort from Riki over the right. Fran Rico takes it, interesting combination bringing the ball out to the edge of the area, though the shot gets blocked by the defense.
	21	Arda Turan misses wide to the right on the effort from the edge of the area! It was close, but still couldn't hit the target as Roberto will get it back in from a goal kick.
	20	Costa is taken away from Nyon who is playing harsh on him and was able to close him down. Costa feels he should have been awarded a free kick and I'll agree.
	19	Gabi slides a pass in over the left for Diego Costa, though Nyom covers perfectly anticipating the path of the ball and intercepting at the point of the Brazilian getting close to it.
	16	After the ball was denied by the defense, Miranda gets to it first, actually it falls down to him in the area and he tries an unusual effort with a volley sending it into the upper net.
	15	Most of the play is in midfield but Atletico are attacking and are dominant so far, having winning a corner now from the left side, Costa was on the play.
	13	Offside flag is up as David Villa is once again behind the defense, though it didn't seem the ball was intended for him. Interesting call.
	11	Granada win the free kick on the right wing and play a trick pass back to Riki whose shot can't get past Gabi it seems, who has successfully deflected it away and denied an opportunity for the visitors.
	10	Arda Turan misses a huge opportunity from the right edge of the area after Roberto gets beaten making a save, though Turan's bounced shot clipped into the air hits the outter part of the net.
	9	Diego Godín on the left flank can't surpass his marker to seeks the feed in, though it will be a throw in as the ball is put into touch.
	7	Atletico have applied pressure here in the opening minutes and now get flagged for offside as Villa was just edged forward on the left side.
	6	Lovely play from Atletico at the edge of the box as Turan finds Villa who lines up for the shot, but gets denied in the finaly dying moments before he could release it.
	5	Nyom is involved several times early on, with the physical right-back getting tight to Rodriguez from the off. A couple of scrappy clearances may have already highlighted the Granada man as a weak point and it wouldn't be surprising if Los Rojiblancos sweep the ball out to the left hand side regularly.
	3	A free-flowing start to proceedings, with both sides enjoying some early driving runs forward. Atletico exchange possession in the midfield three, moving the ball from right to left well, before Villa's eventual through ball in search of Diego Costa is cut out by Nyom.
	1	And we're off with Atletico attacking from early on, strange clearance by Granada as they seem to kick for a corner, but actually the ball deflected off Atletico's player.
	1	Game started.
		Starting lineups: Atlético Madrid: Courtois – Insúa, Godín, Miranda, Juanfran – Rodríguez, Tiago, Gabi, Turan – Costa, Villa Subs: Aranzubia, Suárez, Koke, Raúl García, Alderweireld, Diego, Sosa Granada CF: Roberto – Angulo, Murillo, Coeff, Nyom – Brahimi, Fran Rico, Iturra, Recio, Riki – El-Arabi Subs: Karnezis, Mainz, Oghalo, Benítez, Buonanotte, Foulquier, Fatau Referees: Martínez Juan – Martínez Jacobo, Canales – Carbonell.
		Atletico bid to make it five consecutive wins with another three points against tonight's opposition. The visitors are unbeaten in their last three outings, but sit 36 points below Simeone's men in the La Liga standings. A big ask for Alcaraz's side, but stranger things have happened this season.
		Hello and welcome to live coverage of La Liga's title race, as Atletico face Granada at Estadio Vicente Calderon, with Diego Simeone's men keen to capitalise on Real Madrid's defeat to Barcelona last week. With the league title in the balance, be sure to stay with us for every step of the action, as Los Rojiblancos look to move into the business end of the campaign in style.
		Welcome. Game starts at 22:00.

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups

Goals: 63. Costa

Cards: 41. Gabi (ATM) – 28. Angulo (GRA), 39. Coeff (GRA), 44. Brahimi (GRA)

Atlético Madrid: Courtois – Insúa, Godín, Miranda, Juanfran – Rodríguez (56' Sosa), Tiago, Gabi, Turan (60' Diego) – Costa, Villa (70' Raúl García)
Subs: Aranzubia, Suárez, Koke, Raúl García (70'), Alderweireld, Diego (60'), Sosa (56')

Granada CF: Roberto – Angulo (46' Foulquier), Murillo, Coeff (81' Ighalo), Nyom – Brahimi, Fran Rico, Iturra, Recio, Riki (74' Buonanotte) – El-Arabi
Subs: Karnezis, Mainz, Ighalo (81'), Benítez, Buonanotte (74'), Foulquier (46'), Fatau

Referees: Martínez Juan – Martínez Jacobo, Canales – Carbonell

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