English Woman's Journal - Morata strike sends Atletico into La Liga top four

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Morata strike sends Atletico into La Liga top four

SPORTS 22.01.2024

Morata strike sends Atletico into La Liga top four / Photo: JORGE GUERRERO - AFP

Alvaro Morata's second-half winner secured Atletico Madrid a 1-0 victory at Granada on Monday, taking Diego Simeone's men into the La Liga top four.

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The capital club took advantage of Athletic Bilbao's 1-0 loss at Valencia on Saturday to move above the Basque team into fourth on goals scored, with a game in hand.

Atletico are a distant 11 points adrift of surprise league leaders Girona.

Visitors Atletico made a slow start against their second-bottom opponents, but Rodrigo Riquelme forced Granada goalkeeper Augusto Batalla into a good save in the 31st minute, seconds before Antoine Griezmann rattled the crossbar.

Morata broke the deadlock, though, in the 55th minute with a header, from a Griezmann cross, which survived a VAR check for offside.

Samuel Lino then struck the bar, before Saul Niguez's effort was ruled out by VAR for offside.

Griezmann hit the woodwork for a second time late on when his attempt came back off the post, but Atletico were able to close out just their second league win in five games.

Ch.Reilly--EWJ

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