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Atletico Madrid vs Malaga. Spanish La Liga.

Vicente Calderon.

Primera Division: Atletico Madrid beat Malaga 3-1

Antoine Griezmann celebrates
Image: Antoine Griezmann celebrates

Diego Simeone implored Atletico Madrid to treat the visit of Malaga as a cup final and his players responded with the kind of clinical performance that has brought multiple trophies to the club in recent seasons.

The Primera Division champions earned a 3-1 victory over a team who were charging up the table before the international break, courtesy of goals from Tiago, Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin.

Roque Santa Cruz had clipped Atletico's lead to 2-1 midway through the second half, but the dismissal of Samu soon afterwards left them hampered. Once the two-goal margin was restored by Godin's header, Atletico were able to absorb the late sending-off of Gabi.

Heading into the fixture, head coach Simeone had warned his side there was "no room for error".

Malaga won five games in a row before the short break, climbing to sixth in the table, only two points behind Atletico in fourth. Atletico were beaten by Real Sociedad last time out, their second loss of the campaign.

If Atletico are to mount another title push this season, they could ill afford another loss, and duly they avoided it.

As well as the domestic league title, Atletico have carried off the Copa del Rey, Europa League, Supercopa and UEFA Super Cup inside the last three years, as well as finishing Champions League runners-up.

They led from the 12th minute when Koke swung over a corner from the right and Tiago headed in at the near post.

Atletico pulled 2-0 clear after 42 minutes when Arda Turan broke down the right, made ground into the penalty area and threaded a low pass to the far post. Griezmann simply prodded in from four yards.

Santa Cruz scored in the 63rd minute to rock the home fans inside the Vicente Calderon, flinging himself at Samu Castillejo's deep, looping cross from the left to volley in at the far post.

But once Castillejo's team-mate Samu departed 10 minutes later for a second bookable offence, a foul on Raul Jimenez, finding an equaliser became a tall order for Malaga.

They drifted two goals behind again when Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni appeared to shin out a low cross from the right and Tiago hooked the ball back across goal for Godin to head in from inches out.

Gabi bowed out early too, fouling Castillejo to receive a second yellow card and consequent red, but the match by then was won.

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