Atlético: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda,
Godín, Cisma; Mario Suárez, Gabi; Koke, Adrián (Diego
Costa 56'), Arda Turan (Cristian Rodríguez 64'); Falcao (Raúl
García 79'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Adrián; Chica,
Perquis, Amaya, Nacho; Beñat (Pozuelo 62'), Rubén Pérez,
Cañas; Joel Campbell (Molins 80'), Pabón (Jorge Molina 62'),
Rubén Castro. 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 62. Diego Costa. Headed Gabi corner in to net
from close up.
Yellow cards: Diego Costa 65', Rubén Pérez 68', Miranda 68', Perquis 68', Cañas 70', Nacho 78', Cisma 90'.
Second placed Atlético Madrid beat Betis 1-0 on Sunday evening to move to within nine points of leaders Barcelona in the table. Falcao returned to the side after a long injury lay-off, but it was left to others to make the headlines, with Turan and Gabi bringing good saves out of Adrián early on, and Koke and Mario Suárez failing to find the target before the break. Some ten minutes in to the second half Simeone turned to Diego Costa, and the battling centre forward immediately made his mark, getting between two defenders to head Gabi's corner in to the net from a yard out. The Andalusians hardly troubled Courtois all night, the Belgian keeper only having to make a couple of saves from Rubén Castro and Nacho, and a fifth clean sheet in a row at home in the league helped his team to maintain their 100% home record this season.