Atletico Madrid capitalised on the second-half dismissal of Real Betis forward Braian Rodriguez to keep pace with La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Rodriguez saw red in the 55th minute for his second bookable offence, and Atletico scored twice in the next 10 minutes through Gabi and Diego Costa as rock-bottom Real Betis were made to pay.
It was a sudden capitulation from Betis, who had frustrated Atletico for long periods in the first half.
A sudden rush of chances as soon as the game kicked off was hardly a sign of things to come.
Juanfran and Juan Carlos had early sighters for Betis while Diego Costa twice missed the target for Atletico inside the opening 10 minutes, but – aside from Mario Suarez’s long-range effort which drifted over the crossbar in the 25th minute – they proved the only efforts on goal of the first half.
There was a quick start to the second half too as Juan Carlos struck the post in the 48th minute, but things turned after Rodriguez – booked for a first-half foul on Diego Godin – handled the ball and received his marching orders.
Barely three minutes later, Gabi drilled the ball home from 30 yards and Betis’ game plan was in tatters.
Raul Garcia fired narrowly wide from close range moments later but Atletico did not need to wait long for a second, with Diego Costa nodding in Koke’s cross.
Betis did not have the wherewithal to mount a comeback, barely mustering a chance in response. Jose None’s long-range effort sailed wide in the 78th minute, but Atleti saw out another win with ease.
Elsewhere, Jairo Samperio and Carlos Bacca were on target as Sevilla beat Osasuna 2-1, with the hosts having coach Javi Gracia sent away from his dugout for protesting the decision that led to Bacca’s penalty.
Meanwhile, Javi Fuego netted a first-half brace as Valencia got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Villarreal at the Mestalla.
