Atletico de Madrid 2 - 0 Getafe : Torres on target as Atletico win

Posted Sunday, March 22, 2015 by PA

Atletico Madrid followed up their nail-biting penalty shootout win over Bayer Leverkusen by comfortably beating neighbours Getafe 2-0 at the Vicente Calderon.

Fernando Torres - who scored the final penalty against the Germans - opened the scoring in the third minute following a free-kick and Tiago doubled the advantage just before half-time, also converting from a set-piece.

This was Atletico's first league win in four matches following three successive draws and keeps them one point behind third-placed Valencia, while Getafe slumped to a third defeat in four matches under interim coach Pablo Franco and are just four points above the relegation zone.

Diego Simeone had to make several changes to the team after the gruelling Champions League match, with Mario Mandzukic, Raul Garcia and Miguel Angel Moya all injured, giving Jan Oblak his first Primera Division start and also giving a rare starting appearance to Raul Jimenez, who partnered Torres in attack. Meanwhile defender Miranda was suspended after getting sent off in last week's 0-0 draw at Espanyol, so Jose Maria Gimenez took his place.

Atletico had only scored once in 270 minutes in the league before this game, but needed barely 120 seconds to take the lead here. Koke launched a free-kick from the final third into the area and Torres appeared about 15 yards from goal to head the ball looping into the net, scoring his first league goal for the Rojiblancos since May 2007.

Provider almost turned scorer five minutes later as Koke tried a snap shot on the edge of the area which hit the inside of the far post and then hit the outstretched leg of Vicente Guaita, bouncing across the line but just past the opposite post.

The midfielder then squandered an even better chance on 20 minutes. Gabi's back heel allowed Juanfran to cross into the box and Raul Jimenez's cushioned header put the ball on a plate for Koke inside the six yard area, but he volleyed straight at Guaita.

Although clearly second best on the day, Getafe were not entirely passive and could have equalised through Fredy Hinestroza when the Colombian dribbled across the box, but he took too long to get his shot away and Atleti's defence cleared.

On 44 minutes the league champions got the second goal they had been threatening to score. This time on the right hand side of the box, Koke swung a free-kick to the near post and Jimenez dived in to head it across to the far post, where Tiago nodded in from close range.

Tiago and Torres both could have doubled their tallies in the second half but could not find the target, although there was never any doubt that Atletico were going to take all three points.