Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Morata double helps Atletico to 3-0 win over Mallorca

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Mallorca - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - July 3, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata scores their first goal from the penalty spot, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Juan Medina

Atletico Madrid stayed firmly on course to secure Champions League football next season after two goals by Alvaro Morata and a late strike from Koke gave them a 3-0 home win over struggling Mallorca in La Liga on Friday.

The result left Atletico third on 62 points from 34 games, five ahead of fourth-placed Sevilla and eight in front of fifth-placed Villarreal who both have a game in hand.

Mallorca have a only slim chance of avoiding relegation as they remained third-bottom on 29 points from 34 games, five behind 17th-placed Celta Vigo who have played a game less.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Mallorca - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - July 3, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Thomas Lemar in action with Mallorca's Alejandro Pozo, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Juan Medina

Morata fired Atletico ahead in the 29th minute with a twice taken penalty after goalkeeper Manolo Reina was harshly adjudged to have come off his line when he saved the initial spot-kick.

Morata doubled the home side's lead on the stroke of halftime when he tapped the ball in from close range after a fine cut-back by Marcos Llorente from the right flank.

Atletico dominated the game but Joao Felix wasted two good chances in the opening half and substitute Renan Lodi shaved the crossbar with a fine shot from a tight angle in the 73rd minute.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Mallorca - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - July 3, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Koke in action with Mallorca's Dani Rodriguez, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Juan Medina

Midfielder Koke sealed the win in the 79th with a deflected shot from outside the penalty area, as his swerving volley left Reina stranded after it clipped substitute Juan Sastre's heel.

Atletico next visit Celta on Tuesday, while Mallorca host 12th-placed Levante on Thursday.

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Mallorca - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - July 3, 2020 Mallorca's Iddrisu Baba in action with Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Juan Medina

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Real Mallorca - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - July 3, 2020 Mallorca's Takefusa Kubo in action with Atletico Madrid's Manu Sanchez, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Juan Medina
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.