Atletico go third in La Liga with nervy win over Valladolid
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Vitolo celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Atletico Madrid scraped a 1-0 win at home to Real Valladolid on Saturday in La Liga thanks to a late header from substitute Vitolo to move into third in the standings.
Vitolo cashed in from poor positioning from Valladolid's debutant goalkeeper Jose Antonio Caro to head the ball just over the goalline. Although it was headed away by a defender, a VAR review ratified the linesman's decision to award the goal.
Playing for the first time without fans at the Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico lacked the fluidity they showed in their 5-0 thrashing at Osasuna last Wednesday and were fortunate not to go behind as Valladolid impressed in the first half.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Vitolo celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio Perez
The victory took Atletico on to 52 points after 30 games, level with fourth-placed Sevilla, but gave them a four-point cushion over fifth-placed Getafe to further boost their chances of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
Valladolid are 15th on 33 points, seven points above the relegation zone.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Vitolo celebrates scoring their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio Perez
(Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente in action with Real Valladolid's Javi Sanchez and Churripi, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Real Valladolid's Sergi Guardiola in action with Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix shoots at goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio PerezSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - June 20, 2020 Real Valladolid's Michel in action with Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Sergio Perez
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