Atletico dream comeback

Atletico dream comeback

Atletico Madrid produced the perfect reaction to their humiliating midweek cup defeat with an impressive 4-0 victory at Valladolid on Saturday evening.

Atletico went down 3-0 at Second Division Recreativo Huelva in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night and have been hugely criticised for that result, despite playing most of the match with 10 men.

Coach Quique Sanchez Flores was furious with his team and said he will look for a new group of players that will not let him down.

But there was no time to change too much before this match, just three days later.

Atletico looked a completely different side, though, and took control of the match within half an hour, thanks to goals from Jose Manuel Jurado and Diego Forlan, before Jose Antonio Reyes wrapped up a fine win with a third 13 minutes into the second half and substitute Sergio Aguero added a fourth at the death.

Sevilla slipped up at home for the fourth time in a row in the Primera Liga as Manolo Jimenez's men fell to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Racing Santander.

Young striker Sergio Canales was the hero for a revitalised Racing, hitting both goals as the Cantabrians secured a fourth win in five games under new coach Miguel Angel Portugal.

But it was another disappointment for Sevilla, who had picked up just two points from their last three home league matches and were unable to get back into this one, despite Ndri Romaric's strike on the hour.

The locals rallied late on, but were unable to find an equaliser and saw their fading championship hopes all but extinguished following another miserable evening.

Villarreal missed the chance to record their sixth successive home win in La Liga after being held 1-1 by Almeria, who have now taken four points in two games under new coach Juan Manuel Lillo.

Villarreal took the lead just before half-time through record-signing Nilmar, but the Yellow Submarine were pegged back midway through the second half when Almeria drew level with a Miguel Angel Corona penalty.

That spot-kick was awarded when Ivan Marcano was adjudged to have dragged down Henok Goitom in the area, and to complete a miserable night for the Villarreal centre-back he was also sent-off late on for a second bookable offence.