Atlético Madrid 3 - Albacete 1

Atlético: Leo Franco; Velasco, Perea, Pablo, Antonio López; Ibagaza, Luccin, Colsa (Raúl Medina 91'), Gronkjaer (Richard Nuñez 75'); Salva (Jorge 61'), Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.
Albacete: Gaspercic; Oscar Montiel, Buades, Rubén, Peña; Alvaro Rubio (David Sánchez 46'), Viaud; Redondo (Nico Olivera 55'), Pacheco, Momo; Francisco (Rubén Castro 74'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Velasco, Colsa for Molinero, Marcelo Sosa / Albacete: Oscar Montiel, Viaud, Pacheco, Momo, Francisco for Gaspar, Jaime, Nico Olivera, Mark González, Rubén Castro.

Goals:
0-1. 11. Francisco. Collected ball in own half and ran on to shoot over keeper.
1-1. 20. Fernando Torres (penalty). After Colsa fell over Montiel's foot in area.
2-1. 29. Ibagaza. Picked up failed clearance and fired shot past Gaspercic.
3-1. 44. Pablo. Got above defence to head in Luccin free kick on far post.

Atlético Madrid came from a goal down to beat Albacete 3-1 on Saturday evening and close up on the European spots. César Ferrando's side found themselves behind when Francisco picked up a ball in his own penalty area and ran half the length of the pitch before firing a long shot over the head of Leo Franco. But ten minutes later the hosts were level, referee Puentes Leira controversially ruling that Oscar Montiel had fouled Colsa inside the area and awarding them a penalty which Fernando Torres gratefully tucked away. It was the striker's first goal in seven games, and came as a relief to the Spanish coach who will be announcing his squad for the game against San Marino shortly.

After that the locals dominated the match, Ibagaza putting his side in front after the defence failed to clear Gronkjaer's cross, and Pablo making it three when he steered a header past Gaspercic from Luccin's long free kick. And Ibagaza took over the show after the break, creating countless chances for his colleagues (Pablo, Colsa, Jorge and Fernando Torres twice) which non of them were able to convert, thanks in part to some good saves by Gaspercic. The win takes Atlético up to eighth spot pending Sunday's games, and leaves the visitors on the brink of dropping into the bottom three, just ahead of Racing who play tomorrow.