Antoine Griezmann's ninth-minute goal and a late strike from Yannick Ferreira Carrasco was enough for Atletico Madrid to collect all three points from their trip to Real Sociedad this afternoon.
Diego Simeone's men started the afternoon five points adrift of joint leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona and Celta Vigo, but the 2-0 victory has brought them back into contention. As for Sociedad, who ended the game with nine men, their run of one win in eight games has seen them drop into the relegation zone amid speculation that David Moyes's position as head coach is under threat.
Atletico started much the brighter of the two sides at the Anoeta Stadium, with the first chance being created in the fourth minute. Filipe Luis sent over a cross from the left flank for Koke, but the captain's header was off target.
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However, five minutes later the Rojiblancos broke the deadlock, with Koke the architect. It was his pass that released Griezmann, who swapped San Sebastian for the Spanish capital in the summer of 2014. He sped away from the home defence, before lifting a chipped effort over an advancing Geronimo Rulli.
The response from Moyes's Sociedad was a relatively muted one, with the best opening falling to the feet of Imanol Agirretxe, but the striker blazed over from 12 yards out.
It was a similar story in the second half, with Sociedad unable to mount any real sustained pressure. They were able to create one chance of note four minutes from time, though, only for former Arsenal striker Carlos Vela to lift his half-volley over the top of Jan Oblak's crossbar.
Their situation then deteriorated even further in the closing stages when Diego Reyes and Jonathas were both red carded for dissent either side of Carrasco's goal in the first minute of stoppage time when the Belgian rounded Rulli to roll the ball into an empty net.
Liam Apicella
