Surprise package Espanyol take Atletico scalp
Surprise package Espanyol take Atletico scalp
Espanyol continued their impressive start to the campaign with a 3-2 win at Atletico Madrid on Saturday to move two points behind third-placed Villarreal in the Spanish first division. A 77th-minute winner from striker Pablo Osvaldo sealed only a second away win of the season for Espanyol, who had twice been pegged back by Atletico in a pulsating match.
Espanyol took a 21st-minute lead with Luis Garcia crashing in a penalty off the crossbar after Portuguese winger Simao had handled. Atletico equalised on the stroke of half-time with Portuguese international Tiago, on loan from Juventus, firing home after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.
Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni had a busy start to the second half as hosts Atletico pressed but Espanyol playmaker Joan Verdu fired his team into a fortunate 53rd-minute lead to stun the home fans. Argentine Sergio “Kun” Aguero levelled again for Atletico on 65 minutes, however the visitors continued to attack and Argentine-born Osvaldo, a five-million-euro signing from Bologna in the summer, scored a terrific winner 13 minutes from time. Espanyol, who have a perfect 18 points at home, now lie four points ahead of fifth-placed Valencia while Atletico are five points behind in sixth.
In other matches, Sevilla crashed to their second successive home defeat with Getafe coming from behind to snatch a 3-1 win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday. Sevilla took the lead through Mali forward Frederic Kanoute on 29 minutes but two goals in as many minutes saw Getafe turn the game on its head.
Manu del Moral levelled from the penalty spot on 57 minutes after a handball from Abdoulay Konko and two minutes later Miku Flores put Getafe in front before Pedro Rios clinched the points on 74 minutes with a fine goal. Sevilla stay down in seventh, seven points behind Villarreal, with new manager Gregorio Manzano struggling to make his mark.