{"id":408404,"date":"2018-03-09T14:08:06","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T14:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=408404"},"modified":"2018-03-09T14:08:06","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T14:08:06","slug":"europa-league-roundup-costa-scores-atletico-beat-lokomotiv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2018\/03\/europa-league-roundup-costa-scores-atletico-beat-lokomotiv\/","title":{"rendered":"Europa League roundup: Costa scores as Atletico beat Lokomotiv"},"content":{"rendered":"
Diego Costa scored as Atletico Madrid took a huge step towards a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League with victory over Lokomotiv Moscow.<\/p>\n
Costa netted his sixth goal in 12 appearances since moving back to the Spanish side\u00a0from Chelsea\u00a0in January.<\/p>\n
Saul Niguez and Koke were also on target for the 2010 and 2012 winners.<\/p>\n
Lokomotiv are seven points clear at the top of the Russian Premier League, but now face a substantial deficit going into next week’s return leg.<\/p>\n
“In the whole game we were superior,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.<\/p>\n
The home side opened the scoring midway through the first half courtesy of Niguez’s superb strike from 30 yards that sailed into the top corner.<\/p>\n
Costa added Atletico’s second at the start of the second half by steering home the rebound after Antoine Griezmann’s shot had been saved.<\/p>\n
Griezmann and Costa were both withdrawn as the half progressed, but there was still time for Koke to burst into the area and find the corner.<\/p>\n
“In no way did I feel embarrassment for the team,” said Lokomotiv coach Yuri Semin. “We do not consider the tie lost.”<\/p>\n
Salzburg shock Dortmund<\/strong><\/p>\n Kosovo international Valon Berisha scored twice as\u00a0Red Bull Salzburg<\/b>\u00a0won their first leg 2-1 against\u00a0Borussia Dortmund<\/b>\u00a0in Germany.<\/p>\n Berisha was on target twice shortly after half-time before Andre Schurrle’s strike reduced the deficit going into next week’s return game in Austria.<\/p>\n Brazilian defender Marcelo scored the only goal as last season’s semi-finalists\u00a0Lyon<\/b>\u00a0grabbed a 1-0 win at\u00a0CSKA Moscow.<\/b><\/p>\n