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Atletico Madrid logo
La Liga
Dec 21, 2013 at 7pm UK
 
Levante logo

3-2

Godin (30'), Costa (47', 77' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Ivanschitz (1'), Rios (56')
Juanfran (90')

Atletico Madrid win five-goal thriller

Diego Costa scores twice as Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Levante 3-1 at home to go three points clear at the top of La Liga.

Atletico Madrid have gone three points clear at the top of La Liga with a narrow 3-2 victory over Levante at home.

The visitors stunned the Vicente Calderon in the very first minute when they went ahead through Andreas Ivanschitz, who marched into the Atletico penalty box and then shot home.

Levante's Austrian forward Andreas Ivanschitz celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Levante UD at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on December 21, 2013© Getty Images

Levante could have doubled their lead just 10 minutes later had Thibaut Courtois not kept out a well-struck shot from David Barral.

However, thereafter Atletico started to gain control of proceedings as Arda Turan's crosses began to unsettle the visiting defenders.

Diego Simeone's side's pressure eventually paid off on the half-hour mark when Diego Godin headed home Juanfran's floated cross from inside the Levante box.

Diego Costa put the Madrid outfit in the lead just two minutes into the second half with a left-footed volley that gave visiting goalkeeper Keylor Navas no chance.

Atletico Madrid's Brazilian forward Diego da Silva Costa celebrates after scoring with Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan defender Diego Godin during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Levante UD at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madri© Getty Images

However, Pedro Rios equalised for Levante 10 minutes later when he skipped past two defenders and fired home past Courtois.

There was still more drama to come at the Calderon, though, as Atletico maintained their perfect home record.

Ruben Garcia brought down Juanfran inside the Levante area with 14 minutes left on the clock, and Costa successfully slammed home the resulting spot kick.

Atletico Madrid's Brazilian forward Diego da Silva Costa scores on a penalty kick during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Levante UD at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on December 21, 2013© Getty Images

Levante ended the contest with 10 men after Juanfran was send off in the final minute of normal time for clashing with Filipe Luis.

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Levante's Austrian forward Andreas Ivanschitz celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Levante UD at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on December 21, 2013
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