Aguero puts Atletico back on track
A brace by Sergio Aguero led Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday to put them back on track in the hunt for a European place following rivals Villarreal's shock 1-0 defeat by nine-man Getafe.
Atletico had fallen off the pace following three straight defeats but they were always in charge against a Deportivo side that has stuttered especially away from home.
It was Aguero's night as he first won a penalty after being upended by keeper Daniel Aranzubia although Diego Forlan missed the follow-up spot-kick.
But Aguero then found the back of the net with a jinking run and shot, before adding to it ten minutes before half time.
Atletico are now up to sixth in the table but they are still seven points adrift of Villarreal who crashed 1-0 away to nine-man Getafe.
Juan Albin fired home in the dying minutes.
Daniel Diaz had already been dismissed and Albin was given a second yellow card for taking his shirt off when celebrating his goal.
Despite the red cards, Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido still felt the referee cost them the game.
"There were too many stoppages which favoured Getafe as they organised their game to counter-attack. We needed there to be fluidity in the match," he said.
Lowly Almeria produced an inspired performance to beat Sevilla 3-1 and pile the pressure on the troubled Andalusian side.
It was the first victory for new coach Jose Luis Oltra on his third attempt after taking charge following Almeria's 8-0 thrashing by Barcelona last month.
RESULTS
Getafe 1 (Albin 90) Villarreal 0
Sevilla 1 (Kanoute 83) Almeria 3 (Vargas 48, Piatti 81, 90+1)
Atletico Madrid 2 (Aguero 8, 35) Deportivo La Coruna 0
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