ATLETICO INFLICT FURTHER MISERY ON ELCHE

Atletico 2-0 Elche

Seven yellow cards and three red cards tells the story of the match as Atletico Madrid made a winning return following the World Cup break to beat Elche 2-0 in La Liga.

Joao Felix,who has been linked with a move to Manchester United,Chelsea and Arsenal,started for Diego Simeone’s side and scored the opener. Alvaro Morata added the second to make sure of the win,which moves Atletico up into third,eight points behind Real Madrid and 10 behind leaders Barcelona.

Atletico Madrid moved up to third in La Liga after beating rock-bottom Elche 2-0 in their first game after the 2022 World Cup.

Atletico had a lively start,looking to get the ball up the pitch quickly and into wide areas.

Diego Simeone's side aimed to target Elche's right side,getting to the byline to put crosses into the box,and their first real chance came in the 28th minute,Yannick Carrasco fired in a ball across the face of goal for Alvaro Morata who poked it just wide of the post.

But as the game continued both sides were turning over possession very cheaply,committing regular fouls to stop their opponents from gaining any real rhythm or momentum. However,on the stroke of half time Elche's evening got a lot harder when Gonzalo Verdu was shown a straight red

Macritchie ends Montgo year on a high

card for pulling Morata down just outside the box.The referee initially waved away Morata's appeals but was told to take a second look by the VAR officials. The home side started the second half much stronger,looking to exploit the space and get forward through Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix.They had a

THE RACING SAN MIGUEL 'FAMILY'

Racing San Miguel coach Antonio has embraced his 'family' role at the football club.

"Life gave me the opportunity to belong to this wonderful San Miguel family," said Antonio. Antonio, who returned to San Miguel in June, said: "At first you always have nerves and many doubts, as to whether you are doing the right thing, or not, but I have always said that to train in grassroots football you have to love it."

Meanwhile the Racing San Miguel Cadetes ended 2022 with a spectacular 6-0 victory against Almoradi at the Montesico Blanco, with goals from Enrique, Samu and Pau, netting four.

glorious chance to go 1-0 ahead in the 48th minute,Felix smartly back-heeled into the path of Greizmann who blazed his effort over.

Atletico didn't have a man advantage for long though,as in the 50th minute Mario Hermoso was shown his second yellow card within just two minutes. Diego Simeone's side didn't let going down to 10 men affect them however and just six minutes later they had their breakthrough.After seeing his first effort blocked,Griezmann intelligently clipped it back across goal for Felix to head home.

Atletico then made it 2-0 on the 74th minute,Morata's effort took a wicked deflection and looped up and into the back of the net.

Elche were reduced to nine men toward the end of the match when Domingos Quina was shown his second yellow card after just eight minutes on the field. However,Elche can now switch their attention away from the league to the Copa del Rey where,on Tuesday they travel to the Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa where they will face AD Ceuta FC in the round of 32.