Espanyol 3-0 Atletico Madrid
Primera Division Results/Standings
Espanyol eased fears of relegation this evening by defeating Atletico Madrid 2-0 in Barcelona in a match which saw Tomas Ujfalusi dismissed for a horrific tackle in the closing stages.
Goals from Victor Ruiz and Pablo Osvaldo gave Los Periquitos the points with goals in the second half, and the game was safe before the Ujfalusi's wild lunge on Forlin ended a miserable night for Quique Sanchez Flores' side. Ivan Alonso wrapped up the win in injury time from close range.
Espanyol have been a good run of form but had managed just 22 league goals all season, by far the lowest in the Primera Division, but they started tonight’s match much the stronger, taking the game to the visitors.
Los Colchoneros’ busy schedule meant that Kun Aguero was only afforded a place on the bench. With Europa League and Copa del Rey commitments on the horizon, Diego Forlan started in a long striking role, but his opportunities were limited as Espanyol tested David de Gea.
The young goalkeeper, who displaced Sergio Asenjo as Atletico’s number 1 earlier in the season had an inspired first half. He saved brilliantly from Marquis on two separate occasions, then spread his tall frame to block a Pablo Osvaldo effort with his legs.
Atletico did not create anything of note in the first half, and the Blanc I blau faithful were aggrieved at the officiated, believing they were due at least one penalty in the first half.
However they had reason to be cheerful seconds after the break, after their pressure finally produced the opening goal. A jinking run by Jose Callejon down the wing reached the by-line, where he cut the ball across goal to Luis Garcia. The forward flicked an effort towards goal, and young defender Victor Ruiz was on hand to bundle the ball over the line for the scrappiest of goals.
But they all count, and it was no more than Espanyol deserved at the stage of the match. Atletico immediately introduced Aguero to give Forlan some support at the business end of the pitch.
However, on 66 minutes the away side were punished for their lacklustre performance when Espanyol doubled their lead, thanks to Pablo Osvaldo.
The Argentine has been a surprise hit since his loan switch from Bologna, and he netted his sixth goal in Spanish football, heading home a Callejon cross from six yards as the Atletico defenders simply stood and watched.
That second goal sparked Quique Sanchez Flores into action, and he introduced exciting prospect Salvio. The youngster made an instant impact, playing a sliderule ball into the path of Aguero, but when one-one with Carlos Kameni, his effort was saved superbly by the glove of the Cameroonian.
Salvio had a superb 15 minute cameo, but unfortunately for Atletico, his introduction came too late to save the match. Ujfalusi's dreadfully late tackle summed up their evening, and Ivan Alonso added gloss by reacting quickest to his own shot that rebounded off of the post, to roll home from three yards out.
Espanyol extended their unbeaten run to eight games as a result, dashing Atletico's hopes of a Europa League spot in the process.
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