A standout finish from defender Jose Gimenez has handed Atletico Madrid a 1-0 half-time lead over home side Elche in La Liga this afternoon, with the visitors looking for three points to move into second spot in the Spanish top flight.
Following a rather frantic opening start, Atletico seized on their first major opportunity in the 17th minute as centre-back Gimenez lashed home a world-class shot into the top corner after the ball fell to him inside the Elche box.
The hosts could barely get a touch on the ball in the first half as they sought to retrieve possession from a dominant Madrid side, but youngster Faycal Fajr did his best to carve something out with an enterprising dink to the back post, leaving Miguel Angel Moya to make a good clearance.
Fajr appeared to be the shining light in a fairly workman-like Elche side and he almost created another opportunity going into the final minutes of the first 45 with a teasing cross, only for his efforts to be nullified by some adroit defending from Diego Godin who was on hand to keep his side in the lead.
No Data Analysis info
Germany
Switzerland
Hungary
Scotland
Spain
Italy
Croatia
Albania
England
Denmark
Slovenia
Serbia
Austria
France
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Belgium
Slovakia
Ukraine
Portugal
Turkey
Georgia
Czech Republic
