Atlético: Moyà; Juanfran, Giménez, Godín, Siquiera; Koke, Gabi, Mario Suárez, Arda Turan (Raúl Jiménez 91‘); Fernando Torres (Griezmann 59‘), Mandzukic (Raúl García 84‘). 4-4-2.
Granada: Oier; Nyom, Babin, Mainz, Sissoko (Foulquier 63’); Héctor Yuste, Iturra; Robert Ibáñez (Success 78‘), Piti, Lass (Juan Carlos 75‘); El-Arabi. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 34. Mandzukic (penalty). After Sissoko pushed over Godín inside the area.
2-0. 88. Raúl García. Got between defenders to deflect Turan cross in off his back.
Yellow cards: Godín 09’, Lass 10’, Mario Suárez 27’, Sissoko 33’, Nyom 64’, Mandzukic 73’.
Atlético Madrid stay three points behind second placed Barcelona after they won 2-0 against bottom club Granada, who were under the management of caretaker coach Aguado after Joaquín Caparrós was fired earlier in the week. Having knocked Real Madrid out of the cup midweek, and with a quarter final tie coming up against Barcelona in a few days, the locals can be forgiven for not giving it their all, and the best chance in the first half hour was a header over the top by El-Arabi. Koke and Turan did have penalty appeals turned down however, and with ten minutes to go to the break it was third time lucky when Godín was pushed over by Sissoko in the area, Mandzukic stepping up to convert the resulting spot kick. After the interval though Atleti took control, Griezmann bringing a good save out of Oier, and Mandzukic, Koke and Mario Suárez all going close. The result was still in doubt though until Raúl García got between two defenders to bundle Turan’s cross into the net off his shoulder with a couple of minutes to go.