Saul strike earns Atletico Madrid scrappy win at Real Betis
ByReuters
Updated 10/12/2017 at 20:08 GMT
Atletico Madrid won 1-0 at Real Betis on Sunday thanks to a scrappy goal by Saul Niguez to rack up a third straight victory in La Liga and provisionally move three points behind leaders Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Saul Niguez celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Betis and Atletico Madrid at the Benito Villamarin Stadium in Sevilla on December 10, 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
The Spanish midfielder slid in at the back post to meet a low cross from Sime Vrsaljko to score the only goal of the game in the 30th minute, netting for the second game in a row.
Atletico were without talismanic forward Antoine Griezmann and only had two shots on target and 26 percent possession.
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Saul Niguez of Club Atletico de Madrid (L) celebrates after scoring the first goal for Club Atletico de Madrid with Koke Resurreccion of Club Atletico de Madrid (C) and Filipe Luis of Club Atletico de Madrid (R) during the La Liga match between Real Betis
Image credit: Getty Images
Diego Simeone's side survived a huge penalty appeal for a shove by Angel Correa on forward Cristian Tello shortly before Saul's goal while Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak pulled off an impressive save from former Barca forward Tello in the home side's best attempt of the second half.
Atletico are third in the standings on 33 points, one behind Valencia and three behind Barcelona, who can restore their five-point lead at the top when they visit Villarreal later on Sunday.
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