Costa ends goal drought in Mallorca as Atletico go top
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa scores their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Diego Costa scored his first goal since March and Alvaro Morata was sent off as Atletico Madrid won 2-0 at Mallorca on Wednesday to move top of La Liga.
Costa powered home a header from Koke's cross after 26 minutes to give a dominant Atletico the advantage at the Iberostar Stadium.
Joao Felix doubled Atletico's lead after the break when after a scramble in the box his deflected effort looped in at the far post.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Substitute Morata was sent off in the final stages for two yellow cards in quick succession as he rowed with Xisco Campos and the referee.
Atletico moved provisionally top on 13 points from six games after second-place Athletic Bilbao, on 12 points, drew 1-1 at Leganes.
After Costa broke the deadlock Atletico were awarded a penalty, but it was cancelled by the referee after VAR showed Felix handled in the build-up.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Mallorca's Joan Sastre in action with Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix prompting Atletico Madrid players to appeal for a penalty REUTERS/Albert Gea
The Portuguese forward came close to adding the second but was denied by a good Manolo Reina save, while Santiago Arias hit the post.
Felix's 65th-minute effort doubled Atletico's lead and they survived Morata's dismissal, which will keep him out of Saturday's derby against Real Madrid, to take the three points.
"We've started the season very well (although) not at the level that we want to be yet," said Atletico captain Koke.
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix (not pictured) scores their second goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
"Bit by bit things will go our way, we have to be patient. We need the best from Diego Costa and the best of everyone and bit by bit we keep finding that."
(Reporting by Rik Sharma, editing by Ed Osmond)
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Mallorca's Xisco Campos is shown a yellow card by referee Alejandro Hernandez REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata is shown a red card by referee Alejandro Hernandez REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Mallorca's Manolo Reina reacts to Referee Alejandro Hernandez after a VAR review REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone REUTERS/Albert GeaSoccer Football - La Liga Santander - RCD Mallorca v Atletico Madrid - Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain - September 25, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa scores their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
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