Atlético Madrid 2 - Recreativo Huelva 1

Atlético: Leo Franco; Seitaridis, Perea, Pablo, Antonio López; Galletti (Costinha 83'), Luccin, Maniche, Petrov (Agüero 37'); Mista (Jurado 61'), Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.
Recreativo: López Vallejo (Laquait 46'); Edu Moya, Pablo Amo (César Arzo 69'), Mario, Dani Bautista; Viqueira, Jesús Vázquez; Cazorla, Rosu, Aitor; Calle (Javi Guerrero 61'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Antonio López, Galletti for Pernía, Maxi / Recreativo: Pablo Amo, Mario for César Arzo, Beto.

Goals:
0-1. 63. Javi Guerrero. Following up after Leo Franco saved his penalty.
1-1. 72. Fernando Torres (penalty). After Galletti tripped by César Arzo.
2-1. 78. Agüero. Fisted ball in from close up after Torres headed on corner.

Atlético Madrid moved up to third in the table pending Sunday's results after a controversial 2-1 win over Recreativo in which referee Pérez Lima played a vital role. The local players came out with messages of support for Maxi, who injured himself seriously in Argentina's friendly with Spain midweek, but before the end of the first half they had lost another key player, Petrov also picking up a bad knee injury close to half time. Visiting keeper López Vallejo also picked up an injury saving from point blank range from Mista earlier on, but held on until the break before handing over to Laquait.

Aitor should have scored though for Recre midway through the first half when he got on the end of Cazorla's cross only to shoot straight at Leo Franco, and Maniche came close to putting the home side ahead with a looping header against the bar. Agüero and Seitaridis both struck angled shots just wide of the far post after the restart, but Pérez Lima awarded the visitors a penalty soon afterwards when Viqueira fell under a challenge from Jurado (who had only come on as substitute a minute before), and although Leo Franco saved the kick from Javi Guerrero (who himself had only just come on), the striker fired the rebound in to the net off the crossbar.

Recre felt they should have had another penalty when Galletti bundled in to Rosu, but a couple of minutes later Pérez did give one at the other end when Galletti went down after a tackle by César Arzo (another late substitute). Fernando Torres drilled home the kick to square the scores, and within five minutes the striker got n the end of Jurado's corner to head towards goal. The ball appeared to be spinning clear until Agúero stepped forward and deflected it in to the net with his fist, and to the incredulity of the Recreativo players, Pérez allowed the goal to stand.

Tempers frayed, and soon after that Dani Bautista was shown a second yellow card. Once again the referee was at fault, not realising that he had already booked the player until the fourth official pointed it out, at which point he was sent off. Seitaridis followed soon afterwards, also for a second bookable offence, and there was a frantic last few minutes in which either side could have scored, Fernando Torres in particular coming close when he headed wide near the end. Atlético had won though to move into the Champions League spots for the first time since 2004, and Recre went home having dropped their first points away from home this season. It was not really their fault this time though.