Sporting Gijon 1-0 Atletico Madrid - Barral rolls over Atletico

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Sporting Gijon put some ground between themselves and the relegation zone by upsetting lacklustre Atletico Madrid at El Molinon.

David Barral scored the only goal of a grim encounter in which only Juan Valera's injury-time header threatened to change matters.

The first half contained almost no goalmouth action, with only Alberto Rivera's header for Gijon looping over the bar, and was otherwise notable only for Barral's booking for a foul on Tomas Ujfalusi.

But Barral eased the torpor six minutes after the interval when he met Miguel De Las Cuevas' square pass and slotted low past keeper David De Gea from 12 yards.

Diego Castro was swiftly given the chance to double the advantage when Raul Garcia fouled Sebastien Eguren, but his 25-yard free-kick was easily held by De Gea.

Raul Garcia pushed referee Javier Estrada Fernandez's patience too far by immediately fouling De Las Cuevas, and was yellow-carded.

Juanfran was the first to threaten for Atletico in the 62nd minute, but his 20-yard effort flashed wide.

Luis Perea was booked for fouling Barral, but both Eguren's free-kick and Diego Castro's subsequent corner came to naught as the match settled back into mediocrity.

Eguren was next to be booked after bringing down Diego Costa and a spate of attacking substitutions failed to bring any upturn in either side's fortunes in front of goal.

Garcia Jorge was injured as a dismal game ticked into stoppage time, and was replaced by Andre Castro - whose foul on Ujfalusi almost led to a late equaliser.

Diego Forlan's free-kick was headed goalwards by Valera but keeper Ivan Cuellar shook off the rust of 93 minutes' worth of inactivity to brilliantly tip the ball over and preserve his side's win.

endM