Atletico Madrid established a commanding position at the top of La Liga with a 2-0 victory over Getafe but face an anxious wait for news on Diego Costa’s fitness after the star striker injured himself in the process of netting the second goal.
Diego Godin’s header opened the scoring and Costa missed a penalty before his late strike wrapped up the points, but his injury could prove to be just as significant in the final weeks of the season.
Costa returned to the starting line-up after a hamstring injury and the all-action striker nearly had an early goal when a cross from fellow frontman David Villa narrowly evaded his run.
Getafe threatened on a couple of occasions when Alexis Ruano twice headed off target after corners from Pedro Leon, but there was little constructive attacking football from either team in the tightly-contested opening stages.
In a sign of things to come, Godin’s close-range header was well saved by home goalkeeper Jordi Codina as Atletico began to build the pressure, and their reward came five minutes from the interval.
Juanfran’s delivery from near the halfway line appeared to offer little threat until Codina got himself into a terrible position by racing needlessly off his line but getting nowhere near the ball, allowing Godin to loft a header into the unguarded net.
The first few minutes of the second half were no different, with the game characterised by gritty, competitive play allowing little time for either team to establish a passing rhythm on the bumpy, uneven pitch.
Predictably, the next sight of goal came via a set-piece, when Pedro Leon delivered a corner for Getafe and Juan Rodriguez sent a powerful downward header towards goal, forcing Thibaut Courtois to a scrambling save at his near post.
Courtois then made a more straightforward low stop to keep out a shot from substitute Adrian Colunga, with Getafe looking the more threatening team as the game reached the hour mark.
But Atletico then had a chance to effectively wrap up the game after Mario Suarez won a corner. Koke’s delivery was headed on by captain Gabi and dropped to Miranda, who was clearly hauled to the ground by Angel Lafita as he prepared to shoot, resulting in referee David Fernandez rightly showing a straight red card to the Getafe winger and awarding a penalty.
The hosts were reprieved, though, as Costa’s spot kick was well saved by Codina to his left, and the Getafe keeper was then quickly back up to his feet to block Raul Garcia’s follow-up effort.
Atletico substitute Diego forced a save from Codina as he unleashed a fizzing 20-yard strike with his first touch, but the frustrated Costa was then very fortunate only to receive a yellow card after forcefully shoving Rodriguez to the ground in an off-the-ball dispute.
Leon skied a far post half volley well over the bar as Getafe’s ten men went in search of a late leveller, but Atletico broke to wrap up the points as Adrian’s low cross was bundled home by Costa, who was promptly stretched off after crashing into the post in the process of scoring.
