Atletico overcome Real Sociedad for fifth straight win
defender Filipe Luis scored for the second game running as Atletico Madrid beat Real Sociedad 1-0 on Tuesday to rack up a fifth straight win in La Liga and provisionally consolidate third place in the standings.
The former Chelsea full back had failed to score in his previous 25 league outings this campaign but followed his strike in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Malaga by smashing in the only goal against Real Sociedad from close range in the 28th minute.
Atletico favourite Fernando Torres missed a glorious opportunity to double the lead before the break, hitting the post while visiting goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was stranded on the floor, and substitute Angel Correa also wasted a clear opening in the second half.
Real Sociedad have spent much of the season pursuing Atletico for fourth place in the standings but their chase has wilted in recent weeks, picking up just one point in their last five games.
Atletico, by contrast, have soared, recording a fifth straight league win as they gear up for a crucial period in which they visit local rivals and Liga leaders Real Madrid on Saturday before meeting Leicester City twice in six days in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. many league matches which sealed Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Hamburg to make him the Bundesliga top-scorer, one ahead of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.
Chapecoense beat Atletico Nacional 2-1 in the first leg of their South American Supercup final on Tuesday as the game was marked by memorials to those killed in an air crash before the teams’ Copa Sudamericana final last November.
The match was the first between the sides since all but three of the Brazilian team and their staff perished as their plane crashed on approach to Medellin last year.
Organisers laid on pre-match shows and post-match fireworks for Tuesday’s clash, which was billed as ‘The Gratitude Game’.
Fans also launched one minute’s applause in the 71st minute of the game to commemorate those who died.