Betis: Antonio Adán; Amaya (Nono 26’), Paulao, Jordi Figueras, Chica; Juanfran Moreno, Lolo Reyes (Matilla 74’), N’Diaye, Juan Carlos (Cedrick 69‘); Braian Rodríguez, Jorge Molina. 4-4-2.
Atlético: Courtois; Juanfran Torres, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis; Gabi, Mario Suárez; Koke (José Sosa 82’), Raúl García (Diego Ribas 59’), Arda Turan (David Villa 65’); Diego Costa. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
0-1. 58. Gabi. Picked up ball in midfield and curled long shot wide of keeper.
0-2. 64. Diego Costa. Latched on to Koke headed pass and turned shot past Adán.
Yellow cards: Braian Rodríguez 28’, 55’, Filipe Luis 40’, Jorge Molina 60’, Diego Ribas 88’, Cedrick 90’ / red cards: Braian Rodríguez 55’.
Atlético Madrid are back at the top of the table, above their city neighbours Real Madrid on direct goal difference, after beating bottom club Betis 0-2 on Sunday evening! A supportive crowd turned up to cheer the home side on after their epic Europa League game midweek, and when youngster Nono (the man who missed the last penalty against Sevilla) came on to replace the injured Amaya, he was given a rousing round of applause. With an intense programme of games on the immediate horizon, Calderón made several changes to his line-up, but even so they held their own throughout a first half in which chances were few and far between. Diego Costa did get the ball in the net close to the break though only for the strike to be incorrectly ruled out for offside, and Juan Carlos replied with a shot against the post in the opening minutes of the second period. The turning point of the game though came soon afterwards when Braian Rodríguez was sent off for a second booking after unnecessarily controlling the ball with his hand, and just three minutes later Gabi picked up a pass from Turan and fired a long shot wide of Adán. Some six minutes later Diego Costa drilled home the second after running on to Koke’s headed pass, and the match was over. Four hours later Real Madrid lost 3-4 to arch-rivals Barcelona, and Atlético’s top spot was confirmed.