Match ends, Real Betis 0, Atlético de Madrid 2.
Real Betis 0-2 Atlético Madrid
- From the section European Football
Atletico Madrid are top of La Liga with nine games left as Diego Costa scored his 23rd league goal of the season to help them beat 10-man Real Betis.
Atletico are now level on points with Real Madrid but go above their city rivals, who lost to Barcelona, on their head-to-head record.
Betis's Braian Rodriguez was sent off with the match goalless.
Gabi opened the scoring from 20 yards before Costa doubled the lead from close range.
Atletico's fine season under coach Diego Simeone means there is a chance of a team other than Real or Barca winning La Liga for the first time since Valencia were champions 10 years ago.
If Atletico and Real finish the season level on points, the former will take the title as they have a better head-to-head record thanks to the 2-2 draw at the Vincente Calderon and a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu in September, the only home game Real have not won this term.
Barcelona, who host Atletico on the final day, are one point off the Madrid duo.
Atletico initially struggled to create chances against bottom of the table Betis, but the match turned when forward Rodriguez earned a second yellow card for a handball in the 56th minute and was sent off.
Midfielder Gabi opened the scoring two minutes later, firing the ball into the corner from distance, and Spain striker Costa added a second from Koke's neat headed layoff in the 64th minute.
Line-ups
Real Betis
- 1Adán
- 4AmayaSubstituted forDelgado Villarat 27'minutes
- 2Chica Torres
- 21ReyesSubstituted forMatillaat 75'minutesBooked at 88mins
- 3Santos Junior
- 25Figueras Montel
- 11Moreno Fuertes
- 18A N'Diaye
- 19MolinaBooked at 61mins
- 16RodríguezBooked at 55mins
- 17Pérez LópezSubstituted forMabwati Gerardat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Matilla
- 7Vadillo
- 8Delgado Villar
- 13Sara
- 22Mabwati Gerard
- 24Castro
- 42Varela
Atl Madrid
- 13Courtois
- 20Torres Belén
- 3Filipe LuísBooked at 41mins
- 14Fernández Arenas
- 23Miranda
- 2Godín
- 6KokeSubstituted forSosaat 83'minutes
- 4Suárez
- 19Diego Costa
- 8Garcia EscuderoSubstituted forRibas da Cunhaat 60'minutesBooked at 89mins
- 10TuranSubstituted forVillaat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Aranzubia
- 9Villa
- 11Rodríguez
- 12Alderweireld
- 21Ribas da Cunha
- 22Insúa
- 24Sosa
- Referee:
- Javier Estrada Fernández
- Attendance:
- 31,132
Match Stats
Home TeamReal BetisAway TeamAtl Madrid
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away2
- Corners
- Home0
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away14
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Betis 0, Atlético de Madrid 2.
Foul by Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid).
Alfred N'Diaye (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Cedrick (Real Betis) is shown the yellow card.
Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Diego tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.
Booking
Diego (Atlético de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Diego (Atlético de Madrid).
Nono (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nono (Real Betis).
Foul by Diego Costa (Atlético de Madrid).
Nono (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Jorge Molina (Real Betis) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cedrick.
Substitution
Substitution, Atlético de Madrid. José Sosa replaces Koke.
Thibaut Courtois (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alfred N'Diaye (Real Betis).
Hand ball by Mario Suárez (Atlético de Madrid).
Foul by Koke (Atlético de Madrid).
Nono (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Nono (Real Betis) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Javi Chica.
Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Diego Costa tries a through ball, but David Villa is caught offside.
David Villa (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Javi Chica (Real Betis).
Substitution
Substitution, Real Betis. Javier Matilla replaces Lorenzo Reyes.
Koke (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Nono (Real Betis).
Substitution
Substitution, Real Betis. Cedrick replaces Juan Carlos.
Attempt blocked. Koke (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Juanfran with a cross.
Diego (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Javi Chica (Real Betis).
Substitution
Substitution, Atlético de Madrid. David Villa replaces Arda Turan.
Goal!
Goal! Real Betis 0, Atlético de Madrid 2. Diego Costa (Atlético de Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Koke with a headed pass.
Attempt blocked. Koke (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Diego Costa.
Booking
Jorge Molina (Real Betis) is shown the yellow card.
(Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jorge Molina (Real Betis).
Substitution
Substitution, Atlético de Madrid. Diego replaces Raúl García.
Attempt missed. Raúl García (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Diego Costa.
Goal!
Goal! Real Betis 0, Atlético de Madrid 1. Gabi (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Arda Turan.