Atletico Madrid got their Primera Division season back on track with a 2-0 victory over Espanyol on Sunday.
Atletico lost 3-1 at Valencia before the international break to leave the defending Primera Division champions in fifth place, but goals from Tiago and Mario Suarez ensured they returned to winning ways.
The victory saw Atletico move up to fifth with 17 points from eight La Liga games, while Espanyol slipped to 10th with nine points from their eight fixtures.
Sevilla sit second after second-half goals from Carlos Bacca and Kevin Gameiro saw them beat Elche 2-0 and take full advantage of Valencia’s 3-0 defeat away to Deportivo La Coruna.
Unai Emery’s men managed just three shots on target all game against a determined Elche side but took the lead just before the hour mark, Bacca knocking a rebound over the line following a well-struck free-kick from Gerard Deulofeu.
Substitute Gameiro then put the game out of the hosts’ reach by nodding in a cross from Denis Suarez with 17 minutes to go.
That result came after Depor had stunned high-flying Valencia.
Victor Fernandez’s men had taken just four points from their first seven La Liga matches, losing four games in a row, while the visitors had not been beaten, winning six already.
The Riazor, though, was celebrating again as an own goal from Valencia defender Jose Gaya put the home side ahead on 36 minutes, with midfielder Lucas Perez adding a second just before the break.
Substitute Jose Toche wrapped things up late in the second half to move Depor out of the bottom three.
Ikechukwu Uche scored in either half as Villarreal moved up to sixth with a 2-0 win over Almeria.
–
Source: Sky Sports