Atletico keep pressure on La Liga leaders Barca

Date

2/7/2016 1:04:37 AM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Fernando Torres scored his 100th Atletico Madrid goal as Los Rojiblancos came from behind to move level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga thanks to a 3-1 win over Eibar on Saturday.

Central defensive pairing Jose Maria Gimenez and Saul Niguez headed home corners after Keko had fired Eibar into a shock lead just after half-time before Torres ended a five-month goal drought in stoppage time.

Barca who have two games in hand on Atletico travel to face Levante on Sunday. Atletico's first win in five games also opens up a four-point lead over third-placed Real Madrid who are also in action on Sunday away at Granada.

Diego Simeone's men were without four defenders as Diego Godin Filipe Luis and Juanfran were all suspended from last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Barcelona whilst Stefan Savic was injured.

However their makeshift defence wasn't tested in a first-half short on chances as Antoine Griezmann volleyed over from a narrow angle whilst Angel Correa had a strong penalty waived away.

Atletico were stunned a minute after the restart when Niguez - who was deputising out of position at centre-back - slipped and allowed Sergi Enrich to square for Keko to calmly lift the ball over the advancing Jan Oklak to open the scoring.

The goal shocked Atletico into action and they turned the game around with two goals in eight minutes.

Firstly Gimenez powered in at the near post to meet Koke's in-swinging corner for his first goal of the season. And from another dangerous Koke corner Saul was left unmarked to head in despite Abel Riesgo getting a hand to his effort.

Yannick Carrasco fired inches wide and Luciano Vietto had a goal narrowly ruled out for offside as Atletico looked to kill the game off.

Torres was giving a standing ovation as he was brought on for the final 15 minutes with his future at the club beyond the end of the season uncertain due to a transfer ban hanging over the club which could prevent Atletico making his loan move from AC Milan permanent. However the former Liverpool and Chelsea did finally find the net for the first time since the sides last met in September when Vietto's excellent low cross left him with the simple task of tapping into an empty net in stoppage time.

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