Maradona’s Show Stuns Elche, Diego Ruíz Leads Atleti to 10 Consecutive Wins!
Atletico Madrid's Nahuel Molina smashed home the only goal of the game from long range to help his side beat Getafe in La Liga (Pierre-Philippe MARCOU) Arda Guler scored from around 70 yards out and Fede Valverde capped an excellent week with another fine strike as Real Madrid thrashed Elche 4-1 on Saturday in La Liga. Los Blancos, second, cut the gap on Barcelona at the top of La Liga to a point before the Catalans host Sevilla on Sunday. Atletico Madrid, third, scraped a 1-0 win over Getafe, with the visitors reduced to 10 men when Abdel Abqar was sent off for touching Alexander Sorloth in a sensitive area.
Uruguayan midfielder Valverde, who scored a sensational hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek, whipped the ball into the top corner before half-time after Antonio Rudiger blasted the hosts ahead. Dean Huijsen headed home the third for Alvaro Arbeloa's side, who visit Man City on Tuesday aiming to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. The goal of the night, though, was scored by Turkish playmaker Guler late on, who spotted Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro off his line and lobbed home from near the centre circle.
"He hit the bar (from there in another game) and today he pulled it off, what a goal," Madrid forward Brahim Diaz told Real Madrid TV. "Everyone had their hands on their head... it's worth buying a ticket to see that goal," added Arbeloa.
Arbeloa was able to rest several of the players that started after the break, including Vinicius Junior and Valverde, bringing on a host of youngsters to keep legs fresh. Madrid are still without a host of injured stars including Jude Bellingham, while French striker Kylian Mbappe could return from a knee sprain next week. "We've still got room to improve, the players' commitment is exceptional," a happy Arbeloa told reporters after the convincing win.
Elche, 17th, slumped to an 11th consecutive league game without a victory and could finish the weekend in the relegation zone. Madrid were on a high after defeating City and although Elche showed some resistance at first, they were gradually unpicked. After Dituro saved Valverde's free-kick, Elche could not clear the rebound effectively and German centre-back Rudiger rifled home in the 39th minute.