Match ends, Real Betis 0, Atlético de Madrid 2.
Real BetisReal Betis0Atl MadridAtlético Madrid2
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
Formation 4-4-2
- 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
Formation 4-4-2
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Betis 0, Atlético de Madrid 2.
Post update
Foul by Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid).
Post update
Alfred N'Diaye (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Cedrick (Real Betis) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
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.
Post update
Foul by Diego (Atlético de Madrid).
Post update
Nono (Real Betis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Nono (Real Betis).
Post update
Foul by Diego Costa (Atlético de Madrid).
Post update
Nono (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
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.
Post update
Thibaut Courtois (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alfred N'Diaye (Real Betis).
Post update
Hand ball by Mario Suárez (Atlético de Madrid).
Post update
Foul by Koke (Atlético de Madrid).
Post update
Nono (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
